User:KhalidH/Suggested prototyping protocol: Difference between revisions

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''was current project status from [http://opensourceecology.org/w/index.php?title=Nickel-Iron_Battery&diff=prev&oldid=32539#library lost document], as suggested by Ron Broberg''
''was current project status from [http://opensourceecology.org/w/index.php?title=Nickel-Iron_Battery&diff=prev&oldid=32539#library lost document], as suggested by Gregortheinventor''


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Latest revision as of 02:02, 27 February 2012

was current project status from lost document, as suggested by Gregortheinventor

add here reference to other parts of the document

Basically, having gone through all those patents and documents and so much more (check the edit history) my recommendation as to how to proceed is:

  1. Obtain a a changhong battery.
  2. Performance test it with a battery analyzer fr maybe 20 cycles to collect a bunch of data regarding charge discharge efficiency at various states of charge etc. This should be available from the manufacturer, but I have found that it is not in fact. Probably for marketing reasons. They figure you will just cross your fingers and buy it anyway. We need this info anyway so we know what we are competing against in the market.
  3. Dismantle the electrodes to look at their construction. In all my travels I have not been able to determine how pocket plate electrodes are made exactly this [2] is about it. Although there are many different ways and the basic idea is just to pack the material in at 2000 to 4000 psi (it becomes a solid mass probably a bit like soapstone) and then hold it at a pressure of about 40 psi. The main purpose of the pressures is to decrease the contact resistance between the constituent parts.
  4. If the performance is higher than expected they may have developed new additives, especially if the efficiency is better than 60%. Check the battery for patent numbers. Contact the company to see if the battery or any part of it is patented. Look up the patents. Under US patent system, they cannot conceal this information in the slightest - it must be fully made known - or the patent is not enforceable. That is why stuff usually has "protected by patent x" on it.
  5. If there are not patent problems, analyze the active material by microscopic and chemical analysis to determine what the additives are so we can copy them. Fear not, this is not unethical as this is SOP in manufacturing.
  6. Design battery Open battery prototype I while keeping the production line in mind. To keep costs low there will probably need to be a bit of custom equipment for electroplating etc which can be made with the replab but not really be part of it.
  7. Build, test.

I think it is most probably by a ways that pocket plate is the best, for a variety of reasons, mostly simplicity of manufacture, not tubular and not sintered and not mesh and not teflon bonded and not nickel plated steel wool. Changhong even uses pocket plates for their starting lighting ignition batteries so it should be good.