Development of a monolithic power generation cell for reverse electrodialysis systems

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25281064
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Partial Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Design and evaluation of sustainable and environmental conscious system
• Research Institution: Yamaguchi University
• Principal Investigator: Mitsuru Higa 山口大学, 理工学研究科, 教授 (30241251)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): ENDO Nobutaka 山口大学, 理工学研究科, 講師 (40314819)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 濃度差エネルギー / ポリビニルアルコール / ブロック共重合体 / イオン交換膜 / モノリシック / 逆電気透析 / 動的輸率 / 膜抵抗

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Novel ion-exchange membranes for monolithic power generation cell consisting of a reverse electrodialysis（RED) system were prepared from poly(vinyl alcohol) based block copolymers. The membranes had lower membrane resistance and higher ionic selectivity than commercial ion-exchange membranes.
A large RED power generation system based on a commercial electrodialysis stack was built. The system had 200 pairs of cation- and anion-exchange membranes whose effective membrane area was 1000 cm2. The performance test of the RED system was performed with model seawater （0.5 M NaCl） and model fresh water （various concentrations of NaCl）. The power density and gross power output of the system had a maximum value of 0.45 W/m2 and 17.8 W, respectively, using 0.02 M and 0.5 M NaCl solutions. The calculated pumping energy was 2.76 W; hence, the net power of the system was 15.1 W. Hence, an RED system has potential application to a renewable energy source.

Free Research Field

機能性高分子材料、分離膜