Team:NFLS/Hardware
Overview
As we aim to create a system for degrading waste cellulose and generating electricity, we decided to set up a specific prototype. After a deep research for microbial dynamos, we started with a simple sketch map on the computer. With an elaborate freehand sketch, we got a 3D model online and made a complete hardware with 3D print technique.
The hardware is a simplified one composed of three parts (a physical pulverize, a room for degrading and an electric generator) and several joints. The integrated system should have the ability to generate from the woods thrown in.
Original model
The physical pulverizer
The physical pulverizer is consisted of a cube which could be changed into different shape in practical use. The upper surface is inlayed a couple of tooth surface wheels which smash the woods into pieces. After unceasing pulverization, the remains come out of a valve in the right side.
Degrading room
It is a space for cellulose degrading. The left surface is excavated to match the valve in the physical pulverize. Massive Cellulose is degraded by Endoglucanase here, and the outcome Oligosaccharides is degraded to Cellobiose by Exoglucanase here later. The vessel is filled up with liquid.
The generator
There are two electrodes on the top. On the left electrode absorb some designed bacteria directly facing the valve between the degrading room and the generator. They are engineered Escherichia coli (E.coli) which are specifically described in design. Engineered E.coli produce Endoglucanase and Exoglucanase. Enzymes are expelled from the cells and go to the degrading room. The Cellobiose yielded in the degrading room can travel to the solution in the generator and transported E.coli. They are degraded by β-glucosidases in the cells into glucose which provide energy for E.coli. Protons react into hydrones on the other electrode.
Pollutant Treatment is completed by the inlet and outlet in the right surface. Wastewater with high BOD/COD come in from tubes, and clean water with reduced BOD/COD is ejected on the top. Organic waste is degrade into carbon dioxide in E.coli and offers oxygen atoms to hydrones.
The periodic valve
The valve between the degrading part and the generator allows enzymes such as Endoglucanase and Exoglucanase to travel to the degrading room, and Cellobiose to go into the generator due to the uniformity of solution. As to complete the degrading and the electricity generating at the same time, the valve should be periodic and oscillating.
3D print process
We cooperated with designer He in Zaodain studio to construct some 3D models on the computer and printed a true one on a small scale. The hardware is made of silver light-cured resin, a light, cheap, energy-saving and environmentally friendly material. Silver light-cured resin is waterproof and will not leak. We drew a brief manuscript at first, and delivered to the designer to build a 3D model on the computer and print it out.
Optimum proposal
We cooperated with the 3D print club in Chinese Medicine University (CPU) in Oct. 25th to optimize our hardware. They put forward some important loopholes of the prototype, and helped us construct an improved one on the computer. Link to CPU HP 10.25
A blender and a filter replace the degrading room. They are of different height to let the mixture fall into the next cube spontaneously due to the gravity. They are connected with two fan-shape fences. There is a magnetic stirring apparatus inside the blender with the tray beneath the cube. When the mixture is fully dissolved, we can open a valve in the blender.
The filter prevents solid mixture travelling into the apparatus.
The filter is connected to the anode cube. There is a filtering membrane between the filter and the anode to prevent E.coli and solid mixture travelling to other cubes.
The anode cube consists of electrodes (the orange part) and E.coli (the brown part). The electrodes are reticular and layered between E.coli. Electricity is exported from the thick wires on the cube wall.
Another filtering membrane is added between the anode cube and the cathode cube. There are a number of wires on the cube wall as the cathode. There is a water inlet and a water outlet in the other wall.
