Benthic microbial fuel cells (BMFCs) are alternative energy sources that can power sensors underwater. However, their use underwater is limited by low conversion efficiencies of the low-voltage energy to higher voltages required by modern electronics. Additionally, BMFC systems detailed in the literature are incompatible with the deployment difficulties associated with underwater sensing. In this work, we present an optimal underwater scaling strategy combined with an integrated power management system. We successfully demonstrate the modular scale-up of BMFCs using in-line flyback converters that held the BMFC input voltage at an optimal cell potential of 0.35–0.5 V while directly increasing output voltage to 12 V. Two flyback converters could operate successfully on a single shared anode, delivering 16 mW of the BMFC power directly to a 12 V rechargeable battery at 77% efficiency. We show that the internal resistance of the BMFC and effective resistance of the power management system determine the transition from start up to stable BMFC operation for up to seventy days. These combined factors have not been demonstrated previously. Such a system allows for a broad range of BMFC underwater array configurations that are critical to the future integration of BMFCs with seafloor systems and sensors.

底栖微生物燃料电池（BMFC）是可为水下传感器供电的替代能源。然而，它们在水下的使用受到低压能量向现代电子设备所需的更高电压的低转换效率的限制。另外，文献中详述的BMFC系统与与水下感测相关联的部署困难不兼容。在这项工作中，我们提出了一种最佳的水下缩放策略，并结合了集成的电源管理系统。我们成功地演示了使用串联反激转换器将BMFC进行模块化放大的过程，该反激转换器将BMFC输入电压保持在0.35–0.5 V的最佳电池电势，同时将输出电压直接提高至12V。两个反激转换器可以在一个单机上成功运行共享阳极，直接将16 mW的BMFC电源提供给12 V可充电电池，效率为77％。我们显示BMFC的内部电阻和电源管理系统的有效电阻决定了从启动到稳定BMFC运行长达七十天的过渡。这些综合因素以前没有得到证明。这样的系统允许广泛的BMFC水下阵列配置，这对于BMFC与海底系统和传感器的未来集成至关重要。