Build-a-Batt - A fully parameterized flow cell stack model
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Hi folks,
Over a couple weekends, I've been working on parameterizing the FBRC model. It was borne of a couple kinks I ran into - I would want to adjust bolt or hose barb diameters based on what I had lying around, or scale the model down for smaller lab scale setups while maintaining control over electrode thickness for lab experiments. The idea is to adjust a single parameter in a script, which then adjusts the appropriate dimension in all the design files, then spits them out for fabrication.
The result is a single "model" with flexibility to adapt plumbing, sizing, and construction according to your particular application. So for example, the same parameterized model can spit out
a small cell with hose barbs for lab scale applications (18cm2 electrode area)
a medium size cell (using the current FBRC large format sizing)
or a "fat stack" (3500cm^2) with extra, thicker bolts
all from the same parameterized design. Once the designs are generated, all the associated STL, STEP, and DXF files can be downloaded for fabrication.
If this is of any interest to you, I'm hosting the parameterized model in a webapp here and I've uploaded a short video walking through the general process here.
I briefly discuss it in the video, but because the models are parameterized, it's easier to programmatically keep track of the locations of ports, walls, manifolds, etc. That makes boundary condition declaration and the like much easier to automate as well - so I'm in the process of slotting this into an automated hydraulics/electrochemical simulation suite. Imagine generating your custom model and simulating a "digital twin" for estimates of performance prior to purchasing materials or finalizing design.
I'm very open to constructive criticism on any part of the project (from ideation to UX to engineering). Have fun fiddling with it and let me know what you think!