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Experiment #8 –
Create electricity from ethanol and water
Purpose:
This experiment demonstrates the production of electricity of the Horizon Bio-energy kit. The
direct ethanol fuel cell produces electricity while ethanol reacts at the anode side of the fuel cell.
Hydrogen protons permeate from the ethanol solution through the DEFC’s membrane, liberating
electrons that are captured in an external circuit.
Equipment:
1
PC computer with graphic software
1 Data
Acquisition
Card
1
Red test lead with alligator clip
1
Black test lead with alligator clip
1
10 ohm resistors
1 Bio-energy discovery kit (not provided)
Setup:
Setup the equipment as shown below:
Figure 8.1 – Initial Test Setup
1. Make sure that the bio-energy discovery kit is filled with mixture of 10% ethanol, 90%
water solution stored in the solution tank.
2. Connect the USB cable between the circuit board and the computer and verify that the
green and blue LEDs on the circuit board are flashing.
3. Make sure the graphic software is running on the computer.
