EL-CELL ECC-Press-Air, ECC-Press-Air-DL User Manual

© 2012 - 2017

EL-CELL GmbH

Electrochemical Test Cell

ECC-Press-Air (-DL)

User Manual

Release: 1.5

2017-06-12

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The information in this manual has been carefully checked and believed to be
accurate; however, no responsibility is assumed for inaccuracies.

EL-CELL GmbH maintains the right to make changes without further notice to
products described in this manual to improve reliability, function, or design. EL-CELL
GmbH does not assume any liability arising from the use or application of this
product.

Content

1 Product Description .......................................................................................... 3

2 Features and Specification .............................................................................. 3

3 Safety Precautions ........................................................................................... 7

4 Unpacking ........................................................................................................ 7

5 Cell Assembly .................................................................................................. 8

6 Operation Modes / Gas Supply ...................................................................... 11

7 Electrical Connection ..................................................................................... 11

8 Sample Valve with Septum Port .................................................................... 13

9 Software Installation (DL option) .................................................................... 14

10 Recording the Pressure Signal with an External Potentiostat ........................ 15

11 Disassembly and Cleaning ............................................................................ 16

12 Accessories and Spare Parts ......................................................................... 17

13 Cables and Connectors ................................................................................. 21

14 Technical Support ......................................................................................... 22

15 Warranty ....................................................................................................... 23

EL-CELL GmbH

Tempowerkring 8
D-21079 Hamburg - Germany
phone:[phone]
fax: [phone]

[e-mail]
www.el-cell.com

Page 3 of 23 Manual_ECC_PRESS_AIR_Release 1.5.docx / 13.06.2017

1 Product Description

The ECC-Press-Air test cell is dedicated to the characterization of gas diffusion
electrodes in aprotic electrolytes, in particular for lithium-air batteries. The attached
pressure sensor serves to monitor the inside pressure in either a flow-through or in a
dead-end pressurized set-up. The ECC-Press-Air combines all the features of the
ECC-Press and the ECC-Air test cells.

The provided low-dead-volume sampling port/valve serves to draw gas samples from
the cell’s headspace. The cell hardware is based on the ECC-Std and ECC-Ref test
cells and can be used with or without a reference electrode.

The ECC-Press-Air comes with a controller box for easy interfacing with an external
potentiostat. The box provides analog outputs for both pressure and temperature. As
an option, all relevant signals of the experiment – cell pressure, temperature, cell
potentials and current – may be recorded with an integrated USB data logger (DL
option).

Pressure sensor 0 to 2.5 bar abs.

Variable dead volume by means of
two sensor spacers

Stand (wall mountable)

Port (plugged or for
gas outlet)

Sampling valve with
syringe port or port
for gas inlet

Reference pin

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2 Features and Specification

 ECC-Press-Air test cell dedicated to the characterization of gas-diffusion

electrodes in aprotic media

 Upper electrode is contacted by, and breathes through a perforated current

collector

 Gas inlet and outlet for supply of pressurized gases to the gas diffusion

electrode

 A siphon directs the incoming gas to the backside of the gas diffusion

electrode

 Sampling valve with septum port for drawing gas samples by means of a

syringe

 Attached pressure sensor for monitoring of inside gas pressure. Default

pressure range of 0 to 2.5 bar (absolute).

 Conditioning electronics with analog outputs for pressure and temperature for

seamless integration with external instrumentation

 Total dead volume variable between 4.45 cm3 (both sensor spacers in place)

and 16.92 cm3 (without spacer)



Dead volume in cm3

1. Both spacers installed*

4.45

2. Only ECC1-00-0136-A (sensor spacer B) installed**

10.58

3. Only ECC1-00-0135-A (sensor spacer A) installed**

10.78

4. No spacer installed**

16.92

* delivery condition

**Requires de-mounting of the sensor and must be done at factory.

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 Optional integrated USB data logger for recording of cell pressure,

temperature, cell potentials and current (DL option)

 Operation in either flow-through or dead-end pressurized set-up
 Fully equipped for operation with and without reference electrode
 Reliable ultra-low leakage sealing with PE seal
 High precision 18 mm diameter sandwich geometry with <0.1 mm electrode

concentricity

 Operating temperature range -20 to +70°C (cell)
 Easy and reliable electrolyte filling upon assembly
 Fast assembly and dismantling, and easy cleaning of cell components
 Electrodes are easily accessible for post-mortem analysis
 Reusable cell components except for PE seals
 Small and defined electrolyte volume down to 0.05 cm3
 Adjustable, reproducible and homogeneous mechanical pressure on

electrodes

 Materials in media contact are stainless steel 1.4404 and PEEK (other

materials on request)

 Modular cell construction with many interchangeable components
 Size (including stand): 90 mm x 80 mm x 240 mm (height x width x depth)
 Weight: 900 g
 Dedicated tools available to ease cell assembly and operation

http://el-cell.com/products/accessories-tools

Dimensions (Cell)

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Electrical Specifications (Controller)

- Input: 24 V (0.6 A) supplied by PSA15R-240P mains adapter

- Analog output voltages: 0 to 10 V (1 kOhm / 100 nF) for pressure and
temperature

- Resolution of pressure analog output: <0.05% of measurement range

- Error of pressure analog output: <0.5% of measurement range (comprising
non-linearity including hysteresis and non-reproducibility)

- Resolution of temperature analog output: <0.01°C

- Error of temperature output: < 1°C

- Optional USB data logger powered by host PC with galvanic isolation

- Operating temperature range (controller): 0 to 40°C

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3 Safety Precautions

Use proper safety precautions when using hazardous electrode materials and
electrolytes. Wear protective glasses and gloves to protect you against electrolyte
that may accidentally spill out during filling and disassembly. Upon cell disassembly,
dispose all materials properly. Metallic lithium and some insertion compounds may
decompose heavily in contact with water and other solvents, and can cause fire.

4 Unpacking

Check the contents of the packages against the list given below to verify that you
have received all of the components. Contact the factory if anything is missing or
damaged. NOTE: Damaged shipments must remain with the original packaging for
freight company inspection.

List of Components

1. ECC-Press-Air test cell with pressure sensor, assembled for use in a

2-electrode dead-end pressurized set-up

2. Gas sample port with septum and valve

3. Reference electrode pin, REF sleeve and locking pin for 3-electrode

operation

4. PE seals (10 pieces)

5. Septum (10 pieces)

6. One-way syringe and needle

7. Glass fiber separators 18 mm x 1.55 mm (10 pieces)

8. Sleeve removal tool

9. 24 V power supply with country specific adapters

10. Controller box with analog outputs for pressure and temperature, 4 mm

banana sockets for connection to an external potentiostat, and integrated
USB data logger (DL option)

11. CD with manual and data logger software (DL option)

12. USB cable (DL option)

13. Cell cable for connection between test cell and controller box