Capacitor circuit for arrays of power sources such as microbial fuel cells

An electronic circuit to increase voltages from an energy source with relatively low voltages, said electronic circuit comprising:

• a first set of capacitors and a second set of capacitors;
• a first set of switches associated with said first set of capacitors and a second set of switches associated with said second set of capacitors, each of said switches having a first position and a second position;
• and
• a plurality of microbial fuel cells arranged in parallel and an external load;
• said first and second set of capacitors, first and second set of switches, at least one energy source and load operatively arranged such that said first set of capacitors are connected to said plurality of microbial fuel cells in parallel while said second set of capacitors are connected to said external load in series, and vice versa, for the purpose of alternately charging said first and second set of capacitors in parallel with said plurality of microbial fuel cells and avoiding voltage reversal and discharging said second and first set of capacitors to said external load, respectively, in series and providing an increase in output voltage from said plurality of microbial fuel cells.

A process for providing increased voltages from a microbial fuel cell (MFC), the process comprising:

• providing a first set of capacitors, a second set of capacitors, a first set of switches associated with said first set of capacitors and a second set of switches associated with said second set of capacitors;
• and
• providing a MFC and an external load;
• connecting the first and second set of capacitors, first and second set of switches, microbial fuel cell and external load such that:
• the first and second set of capacitors are connected to the MFC in parallel when the first and second set of switches are in a first position;
• the first and second set of capacitors are connected to the external load in series when the first and second set of switches are in a second position;
• alternately charging the first and second set of capacitors with the MFC by placing the first set of switches and the second set of switches, respectively, in the first position;
• and
• alternately discharging the first and second set of capacitors to the external load by placing the first set of switches and the second set of switches, respectively, in the second position.