19 August 2010
Researchers at Herriot Watt University have discovered a novel way of utilising urine: converting it to low cost energy. I’m not extracting the urine!!! Dr Shanwen Tao and Dr Rong Lan have developed a prototype, the Carbamide Power System, to test whether urine can be used as a safer alternative to hydrogen (flammable) or methanol (toxic). They have been awarded a £130,000 Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) grant to develop the technology.
Fuel cells convert chemical energy into electrical energy and produce heat as a by product without the need for combustion for the process to occur. Traditional fuel cells usually involve hydrogen or methanol at one side and oxygen or air at the other, separated by a specialised ionic-conducting membrane. The cost of the specialised membrane and challenges associated with transportation and storage of hydrogen and methanol have so far been the main obstacles to commercialise these fuel cells. The Carbamide Power System would offer a non-toxic, low cost, easily transportable viable alternative.
Urea solution is already being used in heavy goods vehicles to reduce harmful emissions. The researchers see a future for the full cells in submarines, the military, and power generation in remote areas such as deserts and islands. As the process breaks the urea or urine into water, carbon dioxide and nitrogen, another option would be to re-process waste water producing electricity as a by-product.
Dr Tao said, "Growing up in rural eastern China I was aware of the use of urea as an agricultural fertiliser. When I became a chemist and was looking at fuel cell development I thought of using it in the process.
"We are only at prototype stage at present, but if this renewable material can be used as a commercially viable and environmentally friendly energy source then we will be absolutely delighted, and many people around the world will benefit."
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