EFC Operation, Control, and Integration with Other Power Sources

11 EFC OPERATION, CONTROL, AND INTEGRATION WITH OTHER POWER SOURCES 

If the EFC is delivered and stored dry or hydrated with stabilizer and buffer solution but without substrate, then the EFC needs to be activated by filling it with fuel. It is expeeted that a user will initially fill the system manually with a syringe or pipette or with an 

Similarly, frozen systems are activated by melting the fuel in the EFC—gradually and completely—and the entire system must be tempered to the ambient operating temperature. After filling, the system might require several minutes for wetting and diffusion of substrate (and mediator) to the bulk of the porous electrode. 

With current developments, it is anticipated that activated EFCs filled with fresh fuel will be immediately used for power generation. Due to fuel consumption with side reactions and internal losses even without external electric loading, the fuel-wetted EFC will begin to degrade. Additionally, mediator instability, and possible mediator internal short circuit will also consume fuel and lower power generation. 

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