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Flow Battery Research Collective

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  3. Towards a working system

Towards a working system

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  • kirkK Offline
    kirkK Offline
    kirk
    wrote last edited by
    #2

    Awesome work, Alex! Excited to see your progress!!

    1 Reply Last reply
    1
    • Q Offline
      Q Offline
      quinnale
      wrote last edited by
      #3

      Thanks Kirk!

      Here's a brief update. I've decided to see how I can make this with the simplest of tools (i.e., thinking if one didn't have access to CNC or a manual mill).

      I've found that using hand files, drill bits, and a coping saw (24 tpi bimetal blade), I can make the current collectors of 1 mm brass with a little elbow grease (WD-40 made the cutting substantially easier). My hacksaw was not a great choice for the thin brass.

      In addition, by printing the gasket template for a guide, and then cutting the holes and cavity with some cheap circular punches and an x-acto knife, I got some jenky gaskets.

      cell_items_and_tools.png

      Not the prettiest, but I'll refine my technique as needed. I'm eager to get to leak testing to see whether my printing settings are OK.

      cell_assembled.png

      Also, should I have made this a blog post? Happy to delete and move if that's better.

      kirkK 1 Reply Last reply
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      • sepiS Offline
        sepiS Offline
        sepi
        wrote last edited by
        #4

        @quinnale Hah, that's the spirit. I'm happy someone likes to go the hacky route, just like I might try. Btw, is it relevant to have brass, or would more pure copper work the same?

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        0
        • Q Offline
          Q Offline
          quinnale
          wrote last edited by
          #5

          @sepi Copper should work! My understanding is that the copper is slightly mechanically softer but more conductive. Here, I don't think either of those should matter for performance. Ideally, the current collector by design shouldn't touch the electrolyte so chemical compatibility isn't a concern.

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          • sepiS Offline
            sepiS Offline
            sepi
            wrote last edited by
            #6

            @quinnale ok, thanks but then aluminium could work too, or not?

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            • Q Offline
              Q Offline
              quinnale
              wrote last edited by quinnale
              #7

              @sepi I suspect it would be fine. I can't think of any major concerns. Aluminum might(?) be a bit more susceptible to corrosion/passivization at the surface. But I feel like that depends on environmental conditions. Not sure, maybe someone else here has a good reason not to use it.

              sepiS 1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • Q Offline
                Q Offline
                quinnale
                wrote last edited by quinnale
                #8

                Also, here's an update on the 3D-printed pump! Been running it for about an hour, no issues. Unlisted Youtube video . If anyone is curious I can provide more details. Gonna try run it to death, see if the plastic or the tubing fails first.

                Oh I should I add I leak tested my cell. I noted a few issues (1) the brass current collectors got bent and didn't seal properly and (2) the ports seem to be leaking. I'll need to reprint those parts with different settings. Hopefully this weekend 🙂 .

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                • Q quinnale

                  @sepi I suspect it would be fine. I can't think of any major concerns. Aluminum might(?) be a bit more susceptible to corrosion/passivization at the surface. But I feel like that depends on environmental conditions. Not sure, maybe someone else here has a good reason not to use it.

                  sepiS Offline
                  sepiS Offline
                  sepi
                  wrote last edited by
                  #9

                  @quinnale said in Towards a working system:

                  Aluminum might(?) be a bit more susceptible to corrosion/passivization at the surface.

                  So many things to try out 🙂

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                  • D Offline
                    D Offline
                    danielfp248
                    wrote last edited by
                    #10

                    Since our design prevents direct contact with the current collector, almost any metal should work. you could even use aluminum foil if you really don't want to machine anything (although I wouldn't recommend it! lol). Bear in mind that the graphite foil is not impervious to the electrolyte, it diffuses slowly through it, so if you have highly charged electrolyte some reactivity with the current collector will happen through time (across weeks of cycling).

                    There is a paper on creating an electrode using graphoil and wax that might be much better (https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/slct.202103996). I will probably get a rosin press to test this and construct some better quality electrodes for our kits.

                    1 Reply Last reply
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                    • sepiS Offline
                      sepiS Offline
                      sepi
                      wrote last edited by
                      #11

                      @danielfp248 that makes a lot of sense. Being a complete newb, I slowly gather an understanding of the individual components of the cell.

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                      • Q quinnale

                        Thanks Kirk!

                        Here's a brief update. I've decided to see how I can make this with the simplest of tools (i.e., thinking if one didn't have access to CNC or a manual mill).

                        I've found that using hand files, drill bits, and a coping saw (24 tpi bimetal blade), I can make the current collectors of 1 mm brass with a little elbow grease (WD-40 made the cutting substantially easier). My hacksaw was not a great choice for the thin brass.

                        In addition, by printing the gasket template for a guide, and then cutting the holes and cavity with some cheap circular punches and an x-acto knife, I got some jenky gaskets.

                        cell_items_and_tools.png

                        Not the prettiest, but I'll refine my technique as needed. I'm eager to get to leak testing to see whether my printing settings are OK.

                        cell_assembled.png

                        Also, should I have made this a blog post? Happy to delete and move if that's better.

                        kirkK Offline
                        kirkK Offline
                        kirk
                        wrote last edited by
                        #12

                        @quinnale this look great!!

                        @quinnale said in Towards a working system:

                        In addition, by printing the gasket template for a guide, and then cutting the holes and cavity with some cheap circular punches and an x-acto knife, I got some jenky gaskets.

                        I've done similar, it's definitely possible as you've shown!

                        @quinnale said in Towards a working system:

                        Also, should I have made this a blog post? Happy to delete and move if that's better.

                        Oh no worries there, I made that category in part as a container for Daniel's blog - WordPress and our forum software can interact (via ActivityPub), so that we can reference and comment on his (and other people's) longform WordPress posts directly here in the forum, like what's happening here.

                        @quinnale said in Towards a working system:

                        Also, here's an update on the 3D-printed pump! Been running it for about an hour, no issues. Unlisted Youtube video . If anyone is curious I can provide more details. Gonna try run it to death, see if the plastic or the tubing fails first.

                        That's awesome! Having another pump option besides only Kamoer would be great (esp. an open-source one!). It's this pump you've used?

                        @sepi said in Towards a working system:

                        eing a complete newb, I slowly gather an understanding of the individual components of the cell.

                        Glad to hear it, that's one of the whole points of this forum!

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