How It Works
Compost
The collected compost is dumped into an anaerobic chamber, in which the anode is placed. The Shewenella will be grown on the anode, like a film. Oxygen entering the chamber could possibly be damaging to the process. To keep oxygen out of the chamber when we add the compost, we will pump nitrogen into the tank to displace it.
Chemistry
When the Shewenella comes into contact with the compost, it begins to decompose the material, and produces H+ protons, and CO2. The CO2 emitted by the process will be the same amount of CO2 that the plants in the compost consumed when they were alive, making the fuel carbon neutral.
Electricity
The electrons, separated from the hydrogen, then travel to an external circuit through the anode. The circuit converts 95-98% of the electrons’ energy into alternating current (AC). AC is then used to power all of the factory’s machines. The remaining energy from the electrons is lost as heat energy. The H+ protons go across a Proton-Exchange membrane, into the aerobic chamber.
Current
Once the electrons exit the circuit, the electrons travel to the cathode in the aerobic chamber, and reunite with the H+ protons to become H atoms.
Substrate
The remainder after the oxidization of the compost is dirt, which can be used as soil after being removed from the anaerobic chamber. Meanwhile, the H atoms in the aerobic chamber react with the oxygen to form water, which can be emptied out once the tank is full.
Financials
Cost Breakdown
The cost per quadrant (100 units) is $6295.20
And the cost per factory is $62950.20
Therefore, it will be much cheaper compared to fossil fuels.
Implementation
There will be 100 cells in each quadrant. To power an average factory in the US, we would need 10 quadrants. We will use compost that is collected by the government and pay them a licensing fee.
