Download - Design Development
Design Development
Sparky 1
Battery made from zinc plated nails (anode) in zinc sulfate solution and copper (cathode) in copper sulfate solution with a salt bridge made from sodium chloride soaked sponges
Battery case was prepared from Plexiglas with 10 cells per case
Cases are stackable to allow for the use of multiple cases
Sparky 2
Figure 1 : Battery Case
Figure 2: Stacked Battery Cases
Complications The weight of the cases was substantial Did not achieve high enough current or voltage
Battery made from zinc plated nails (anode) in zinc sulfate solution and copper nails (cathode) in copper sulfate solution with a salt bridge made from agar and sodium chloride
Each cell was created in plastic tubing to reduce size and weight
Agar salt bridge was used to maximize ion flow, creating improved current and voltage
Complications Still could not achieve high
enough current to propel the motor using a reasonable number of cells
Figure 3: U Tube Cell Design
Final DesignSparky 3
Made from galvanized steel (zinc) and copper plates
Paper towel sheets soaked in lemon juice were placed in between metal plates to act as an electrolyte
Each cell was made from one zinc plate and one copper plate with a soaked paper towel placed in between
Battery
Locomotion/Body Design 9V, 0.1 amp motor used to
propel car Gears attached to both motor
and front axle Galvanized steel body CD casing
Hydrochloric acid of varying concentration is used to dissolve a magnesium strip
The strength of the hydrochloric acid is determined by time it takes car to travel the required distance
Magnesium strip is wired within the circuit and acts like a switch, shutting the motor off
Timing Reaction
AIChE Car Competition: Battery Powered MotionJosh Ashcroft, Joshua Gemmell, Susan Kubinski, Robert Ruttle, Stephen Sepulveda,
Advisors Dr. Jeff Heys and Fred Peña, Arizona State UniversityBryan Sexton, and David Vasquez, Arizona State University
Figure 4: Josh and Robert Creating Battery
Figure 5: Timing Reaction Case
Case is made out of Plexiglas 2 pins are use hold
magnesium ribbon on place
Figure 6: Sparky 3
Budget
All other supplies used were donated to the project from various sources
AcknowledgmentsSpecial thanks to Dr. Jeff Heys and Fred Peña for all their assistance and the Department of Chemical Engineering, ASU’s Ira A. Fulton School of Engineering for funding this project
Future Work Experiment with a variety of assorted electrodes Experiment with different electrolytes Create a enhanced propulsion method/body design
36 cells were used – 4 sets of 9 cells wired in parallel Case constructed from Plexiglas
Items CostElectrical Supplies
Wire $15Building Supplies
Sheet Metal $55Plexiglas $6.80Hardware $4.75Solder $5
Chemical SuppliesCopper $69JB Weld $10Hydrochloric Acid $25Magnesium $25Lemon Juice $5
Poster $50
Total $270.55
Figure 7: Bryan Testing the Car