Projects / Measurements, sensors and data acquisition
Laboratory flow-battery controller with two stepper pumps, voltage, current, temperature and cell-channel measurement, LCD interface and USB/VCP data transfer.
The task was to automate a laboratory flow-battery setup: measure the electrochemical stack, control electrolyte pumping with two pumps and transfer data to a PC for experiment recording. The key point was electrolyte flow-rate measurement.
A flow-battery control system with two stepper pumps was developed. It measures stack parameters, supports multichannel data acquisition, controls electrolyte flow, shows parameters on an LCD and sends data to a computer.
Project materials
Engineering context
In a flow battery, electrical parameters depend on electrolyte flow rate.
An experiment needs repeatable pumping changes that can be compared with voltage, current and state of charge.
The pumps and measurements have to work in one logic instead of as separate instruments.
A local display and PC connection make bench work more convenient for the researcher.
Work done
Controller-board circuit for a laboratory stack.
Voltage, current and temperature measurement.
Additional measurement channels for cell-voltage checks in the stack.
Control of two stepper pumps through DRV8825 drivers.
LCD1602 and panel buttons.
USB/VCP connection to a PC.
Firmware functions: ADC, DMA, filtering, stepper-signal timers, UART and saved parameters.
Details
The controller does not only switch pumps on and off. It ties electrolyte flow to measured electrical parameters so an experiment can be repeated, analyzed and adjusted.
The device includes voltage, current, temperature and additional analog channels. This makes the board a central bench controller, not just a pump driver.
The operator sees main parameters on the LCD and can receive data on a PC. This reduces the number of separate instruments and manual settings during tests.
Contact
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