Patent · US Active

Method and apparatus for detecting defects of fuel cell membrane-electrode assembly

US9653743B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
0References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 22, 2014
Grant dateMay 16, 2017
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 8, 2035

Classification

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

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a method of detecting defects of a fuel cell membrane-electrode assembly which comprises a gas diffusion layer, a catalyst layer and an electrolyte membrane. The method includes steps of: supplying gas to a first side of the membrane-electrode assembly; deducing a pressure of the supplied gas and a permeation rate of the gas permeating to a second side of the membrane-electrode assembly and then deducing an interface pressure between the electrolyte membrane and the gas diffusion layer of the membrane-electrode assembly using the deduced pressure of the supplied gas and the permeation rate; calculating a gas permeability of the electrolyte membrane using the deduced values of the pressure of the supplied gas and the permeation rate and a predetermined outlet pressure at the second side of the membrane-electrode assembly; and determining a defect state of the electrolyte membrane using a variation in the calculated gas permeability according to a change in the pressure of the supplied gas.

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