Electrokinetic Energy Conversion in Heterogeneous Ion-Exchange Plugs

Abstract

An experimental investigation of the energy conversion in electrokinetic phenomena is described. Electroosmosis and streaming potential have been the electrokinetic techniques employed and ion-exchange plugs were used as porous media. The effect of the structural characteristics (composition, compactness and D. V. B. grade) of the ionic plug, when the permeant composition is kept constant, and also the influence of the electrolyte concentration and the composition of the acetone-water mixture on the maximum energy conversion efficiency (^m ax ) have been studied. The experimental results have been analyzed on the basis of Thermodynamics of Irreversible Processes. The variation trends of j/ max against the structural characteristics of the plug have been explained as being due to the behavior of the parameters of the systems themselves (zeta-potential and pore radius). When the permeant composition is varied the behavior of ^m ax is a consequence of the changes in the solid-liquid interface and the plug structure, besides the changes of the liquid phase characteristics.

Energy harvesting from water streaming at charged surface

“…The values of the EKEC efficiency are summarized from the following references: EDLs overlap from number 1 to 32 (Refs. [12, 13, 70, 80, 83–86, 111, 114–119, 120–129, 130–136], respectively), additions in liquid from number 33 to 37 (Refs. [82, 131, 137–139], respectively), ion layering from number 38 to 46 (Refs.…”

“…Most of the experiments were performed by using porous materials, like ceramic [135], Pyrex glass plugs [157], and ion exchange resin [136], before the development of microfabrication. The low efficiency and technique hurdles are possible reasons for slow developments since the 1960s.…”