Patent · US Active

Method for checking the seal of a stack of fuel cells

US8669017B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by

4References

16Claims

0Family size

Assignee

INFICON AG · LI

Inventors

Sandra Seitz · Goldkronach, DE
Rudi Widt · Recklinghausen, DE

Key dates

Filing date	Dec 9, 2009
Grant date	Mar 11, 2014
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Sep 26, 2030

Classification

Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
CPC primaryY02E60/50
WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A stack (10) of fuel cells (11) is to be tested for tightness of the fuel cell membranes. For this purpose, a tracer gas is introduced into the fuel feed channel (15) of the stack (10). The fuel discharge channel (16) is either open or it is closed. A carrier gas is fed to the feed air channel. (17) and led through the exhaust air channel (18) to a gas sensor (28) where a determination is made whether the carrier gas contains amounts of tracer gas. A defective fuel cell (11) can be located by introducing a lance comprising a sniffing probe into the corresponding channel (18) and determining the position of the probe.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.