Implementing Advanced Knowledge
bits
5 .4.1 Moss Voltaic
IaaC Research
Moss Voltaic
(The text that here follows is an extract from an IAAC text produced in occasion of the research done by Elena Mitrofanova under the supervision of the IaaC Faculty.)
Moss Voltaics is a green façade system that aims to explore how moss might be used as a source of renewable energy and how it can be implemented to the urban scale. Mentioned emerging technology is called biophotovoltaics (BPV) which uses the natural process of photosynthesis to generate electrical energy. In this process plants using light energy consume carbon dioxide and water from the environment to convert it into organic compounds. Those compounds are required for the vital processes of a plant. “When the moss photosynthesises it releases some of these organic compounds into the soil which contains symbiotic bacteria. The bacteria break down the compounds, which they need to survive, liberating byproducts that include electrons.” (From <http://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/the-hidden-power-of-moss> ) By providing an electrode for the micro-organisms to donate their electrons to, the electrons can be harvested as electricity. The system can work with other species of plants and algae, nevertheless moss was chosen because of its eligible properties. As mosses are commonly found in cities: in cracks between paving, on roofs, on walls and trees, the system can be well adapted into the urban environment. Advantages of mosses over higher plants include reduced weight loads, increased water absorption, no fertilizer requirements, high drought tolerance and low maintenance. Compared with silicon-based photovoltaic cells, a solar cell that uses biological material to capture light energy would be cheaper to produce, selfrepairing, self-replicating, biodegradable and much more sustainable. The manufacturing process is harmless to the environment. Furthermore BPV panels can exist in the places where solar panels are not efficient - northern countries with the lack of direct sunlight. Cover - Moss Voltaic Prototype, IaaC Archive Figure 1 - Moss Voltaic Prototype, IaaC Archive Figure 2 - Moss Voltaic Prototype, IaaC Archive 2
4
6
Biophotovoltaic cell represents an organization of units combined in series or parallel circuits. Unit is a full operating bio-electrical system. It consists of the anodic biological material (moss), the anode, the cathode, the cathodic catalyst, the “salt bridge” that permit to the positive charge (generally protons) to travel from the anodic biological material to the cathode. The anode represents the mixture of hydrogel and carbon fibers that help to attract the electrons. Hydrogel is a polymer that can absorb water up to 400 times to its weight, it keeps complementary humidity for the moss and it is pH neutral. The materials are not damaging any metabolism. Design of a system. As it was mentioned system represents a façade wall structure which consists of separate elements - sort of clay bricks. Those containers create special microclimate that helps to keep moss alive. The bottom part inside is glazed to be waterproof, the rest is a porous clay without a coating. Porous type of clay absorbs water, so the system could be passive receiving moisture from rain, where hydrogel retains liquid for a long period. The unit’s shape is predicted by the system of assembling, by the forces that are distributed through the whole volume, and by the specific conditions linked with the fabrication process. Elements are gathered by the relief of the surfaces on their side faces without adding any cement mixture. Electrical connections are passing through those system joints. Moss is not exposed to the direct sunlight, blocks provide the required shading. One Unit is giving 0,4 - 0,5 Volts. The prototype consists of 16 bricks connected in the series circuit to increase the voltage. Groups that were connected in series are combined in the parallel circuit to increase the current. The system generates 3V/20mA, 16х0,044W which is enough to charge Led lighting.
Moss Voltaic is a project of IaaC, Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia http://iaac.net/ developed at Open Thesis Fabrication 2014 by: Student: Elena Mitrofanova http://elenamitro.com/ IAAC Faculty: Silvia Brandi, Alexandre Dubor, Luis Fraguada Scientific development: Paolo Bombelli, University of Cambridge http://www.bioc.cam.ac.uk/howe/members/paolo-bombello-postdoctoralresearcher-1 Collaboration: Toni Cumella, Ceramica Cumella Figure 3 - Parameters Graph, IaaC Archive Figure 4 - Arduino Connection, IaaC Archive
Copyright © 2014 Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia All rights Reserved.
IAAC BITS
IAAC
DIRECTOR:
IAAC SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE:
Manuel Gausa, IaaC Dean
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Jordi Vivaldi, IaaC bits Editorial Coordinator
EDITORIAL TEAM Manuel Gausa, IaaC Dean Mathilde Marengo, Communication & Publication Jordi Vivaldi, IaaC bits Editorial Coordinator
ADVISORY BOARD: Areti Markopoulou, IaaC Academic Director Tomas Diez, Fab Lab Bcn Director Silvia Brandi, Academic Coordinator Ricardo Devesa, Advanced Theory Concepts Maite Bravo, Advanced Theory Concepts
DESIGN: Ramon Prat, ACTAR Editions
IAAC BIT FIELDS: 1. Theory for Advanced Knowledge 2. Advanced Cities and Territories 3. Advanced Architecture 4. Digital Design and Fabrication 5. Interactive Societies and Technologies 6. Self-Sufficient Lands
Nader Tehrani, Architect, Director MIT School Architecture, Boston Juan Herreros, Architect, Professor ETSAM, Madrid Neil Gershenfeld, Physic, Director CBA MIT, Boston Hanif Kara, Engineer, Director AKT, London Vicente Guallart, Architect, Chief City Arquitect of Barcelona Willy Muller, Director of Barcelona Regional Aaron Betsky, Architect & Art Critic, Director Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati Hugh Whitehead, Engineer, Director Foster+ Partners technology, London Nikos A. Salingaros, Professor at the University of Texas, San Antonio Salvador Rueda, Ecologist, Director Agencia Ecologia Urbana, Barcelona Artur Serra, Anthropologist, Director I2CAT, Barcelona
PUBLISHED BY: Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia ISSN 2339 - 8647 CONTACT COMMUNICATIONS & PUBLICATIONS OFFICE: communication@iaac.net
Institut for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia Barcelona
8
Pujades 102 08005 Barcelona, Spain T +34 933 209 520 F +34 933 004 333 ana.martinez@coac.net www.iaac.net