Micro-photosynthetic power cell (μPSC) is one of the emerging energy harvesting technologies which harvests energy using light (photosynthesis) and carbohydrate metabolism in dark (respiration) for low-power (mW range) applications. μPSC is a green technology that not only uses solar power and algae, but also provides power in both dark and light conditions. This perspective article provides state of the art of μPSC technology in terms of fabrication, mathematical modeling and energy harvesting circuit design. Currently, low power densities and high cost are the factors limiting μPSCs commercialization. Key aspects and methods to enhance the performance and decrease the cost are proposed in this paper. © The Author(s) 2019.

Raghunathan Rengaswamy

Department Of Chemical Engineering

Kiran Kuruvinashetti

Pragasen Pillay

Muthukumaran Packirisamy

Hemanth Kumar Tanneru

Solar energy

carbohydrate metabolism

Circuit designs

GREEN TECHNOLOGY

High costs

LIGHT CONDITIONS

LOW POWER

POWER CELLS

State of the art

Energy harvesting

IIT Madras is a public technical and research university located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Founded in 1959, it is recognised as an Institute of National Importance.

IIT Madras has been ranked as the top engineering institute in India for four years in a row by the National Institutional Ranking Framework of the MHRD

It currently offers undergraduate, postgraduate and research degrees across 16 disciplines in Engineering, Sciences, Humanities and Management. About 596 faculty belonging to science and engineering departments and centres of the Institute are engaged in teaching, research and industrial consultancy.

IIT Madras

Journal of the Electrochemical Society

In this work, we provide a cost comparison of micro-photosynthetic power cells (μPSC) with the well-established photovoltaic (PV) cells for ultra-low power and low power applications. We also suggest avenues for the performance improvement of μPSC. To perform cost comparison, we considered two case studies, which are development of energy systems for: (i) A typical mobile-phone battery charging (low power application) and (ii) powering a humidity sensor (ultra-low power application). For both the cases, we have elucidated the steps in designing energy systems based on PV and μPSC technologies. Based on the design, we have considered the components needed and their costs to obtain total cost for developing energy systems using both PV and μPSC technologies. Currently, μPSCs based energy systems are costlier compared to their PV counterparts. We have provided the avenues for improving μPSC performance, niche application areas, and aspects in which μPSCs are comparable to PV cells. With a huge potential to develop low-cost and high performing technologies, this emerging technology can share the demand on PV technologies for ultra-low power applications. © 2019 by the authors.

Fulltext

Energies

Feasibility studies of micro photosynthetic power cells as a competitor of photovoltaic cells for low and ultra-low power iot applications

In this paper, we describe a model for a micro photosynthetic power cell (μPSC). μPSC is an electrochemical device which harnesses electrons and protons from the electron transport chains of photosynthesis (in the presence of light), and respiration (in the absence of light) occurring inside an oxygenic photosynthetic organism to generate electricity. μPSC has been identified as a potential power generating device for low power applications. A one dimensional model for a μPSC based on mass balances of species in the anode and cathode chambers considering unsteady one dimensional diffusion is developed. The governing equations are solved to obtain the v−i characteristics of a μPSC device. The unknown parameters in the model are estimated from experimental data. The model with its estimated parameters is validated using test v−i characteristic data. Simulation analysis is performed to understand performance improvement possibilities. Explicit optimization formulations to identify promising device designs are also explored. © 2017 Elsevier Ltd

Computers and Chemical Engineering

On modeling and optimization of micro-photosynthetic power cells

Microsystem Technologies

MEMS based energy harvesting for the Internet of Things: a survey

IEEE Transactions on Industrial Electronics

Electrochemical Modeling and Equivalent Circuit Representation of a Microphotosynthetic Power Cell

Lab on a Chip

Self-sustainable, high-power-density bio-solar cells for lab-on-a-chip applications

TECHNOLOGY

Micro photosynthetic cell for power generation from algae: Bio-electrochemical modeling and verification

Micro photosynthetic power cells

Journal	Journal of the Electrochemical Society
Publisher	Electrochemical Society Inc.
ISSN	00134651
Open Access	Yes