Test Station 3 EnCh

From WikIRI

Development

The goal of this development project for this test station is to design a template for all the other test stations and the data storage and organization on a searchable database.

List of changes made to Test Station 3 EC

Basic Concepts

The Basic Point

Easy Consistent LabView Program for all Test Stations
Automatic Data Organization and Connectivity (a complete dataset with the proper METAData)
Accessibility to the Data from the web (Searchable)
A Wiki to bring it all together

A little bit of Detail

The fundamental concept is to make our laboratory easier to use, that the data is automatically organized, and to improve the quality of the data through connectivity. These objectives will be accomplished through the integration of the following mechanisms. The LabView data acquisition system which creates the raw data files and the Meta data (Meta data is data that describes the data) files associated to a given experiment in a format that is directly computer readable and then automatically uploaded the server. From the information in the Meta data the server or LabView will know how it needs to be organized (hopefully in a database). The raw data and all its associated Meta data will then be accessible through the web as read-only in the http protocol (I think this is best for security reasons). Then the final step is a Wiki, were a page is created automatically from the information from the data with a few fundamental graphs (like current and voltage over time, Pol. Curve). This Wiki page then can be expanded and more analysis can be added.

The LabView program should be designed in a generic fashion so that it can be later implemented into any test station. All the possible inputs and outputs that we can think of should be available and a few extra just in case. Those they can be activated depending on which test station it is on and with which fuel cell. The interface is setup with a start-up window that the operator can input the state of the test station (like where the thermocouples are, which MFC is being used and so on) and which fuel cell is being used. This start-up window is easy to use and takes very little time to fill out. The idea is to have a schematic of the test station with symbols for all the different components. Then next to each component there is a drop down window that allows you to select, out of a list, which component is installed (if it does not exist, there is an option to create a new one). The program should remember the last configuration so that the operator only has to change what has been modified in test station. This data that describes the data that is being recorded is called meta data, which should be recorded with every run. This is critical to having a complete data set. The layout of raw data set and the meta data is explained in the following pages. Raw Data Layout and Meta Data Layout.

The main LabView operating window is also generic and has all the basic data displayed in graphs that you can select what data you want to see. (2 graphs with an option to open a windows with more graphs are needed).

The program begins to record the data as soon as the system is activated and only sensors that are activated are recorded.

The control set points can all be inputted ether manually or a profile can be loaded into the program for the system to follow.

There is a comments tab that allows the operator to input any thing that is not recorded in the data file. The date and time is stamped on each comment. LabView then places all the comments into on http file that is uploaded to the database and then the wiki.

Once the run is finished LabView should make some basic graphs and save them out as JPG, all the data should be uploaded to the serve onto a data base, which is open to the web.

Finally the wiki should then be able to create a page for that data set and show the basic graph of the test and links to all the information about the different components or comments that where used or made in the run.

This is the idea so far I would love your input and comments on what you think.

DO NOT BE AFRAID TO EDIT THIS PAGE And if you are not sure put in the discussion tab OK... (it is at the very top of the page)

Schematic of Test Station 3

Phase 1 of the Implementation: Diffusion Coefficient Characterization

The Objective of Phase 1 is to put into operation the LabView software, hardware and sensors to measure and control the flowing variables.

Another objective is to test the environmental chamber.

Sensors for H-100

Stack voltage
Stack current
Hydrogen Inlet high pressure transducer 0-6 bars gauge
Hydrogen Inlet low pressure transducer 0-1 bars gauge
Temperature Thermal couples (cathode gas inlets and output, Anode outlet, anode outlet line heater, 10 cells, 1 internal to stack: Total 15)
Membrane Resistance (System analyzer and current interrupt)
Air velocity sensor
Fan voltage, current, angular velocity (if time permits)
Sensors from environmental chamber (Temperature, Humidity, O2 concentration)
Hydrogen sensor for inside chamber Neodym
Hydrogen Mass flow controller reading (5.0 Bronkhorst)
Humidity sensors (1 from humidifier, 2 new for outlet: Total 4), (May need to buy another one for verification of environmental chamber humidity)

Optional

Short circuit current
Individual cell voltage

Control

Load bank (constant V I P) TDI
Hydrogen flow
Fan voltage
Anode humidifier and line heater
Outlet anode line heater

Optional

Environment Chamber(Temp & humidity)

Implementation of LabView

Test Station 3 - Elements&Variables Spreadsheet

Sketches from Miguel and Attila

File:Sketch of Startup Schematic.pdf
File:List of variables for LabView.pdf
File:List Things to Buy.pdf

Installation Notes for phase 1:

CellKraft Humidifier Thermal couple wiring to labview chassis: Blue wire on top, Red wire on bottom.
CellKraft Line heater thermal couple wiring to temperature controller: brown wire to #22 and white to #23 with jumper to #24.
CellKraft line heater electrical connection: Brown wire to #1/L1 on relay, Blue wire to blue rail connector empty hole (hole next to yellow wire).