Method and apparatus for detecting transfer leaks in fuel cells
First Claim
1. A method of detecting transfer leaks within a fuel cell stack, said stack comprising:
- a plurality of fuel cell assemblies each comprising a membrane electrode assembly comprising an anode, a cathode, and an ion exchange membrane interposed therebetween, at least one fuel manifold fluidly connected to the fuel stream passages of said plurality of fuel cell assemblies, and at least one oxidant manifold fluidly connected to the oxidant stream passages of said plurality of fuel cell assemblies, said method comprising;
(a) supplying inert gas to said at least one oxidant manifold at a first pressure;
(b) supplying fuel to said at least one fuel manifold at a second pressure greater than or equal to said first pressure;
(c) applying a potential difference across at least one of said plurality of fuel cell assemblies such that the cathode of said at least one of said plurality of fuel cell assemblies is more positive than the anode thereof; and
(d) measuring the transfer current across said at least one fuel cell assembly.
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Abstract
A method of detecting transfer leaks within a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack comprises: supplying fuel or inert gas to the oxidant manifold(s) of the stack at a first pressure; supplying the other of fuel or inert gas to the fuel manifold(s) at a second pressure greater than or equal to the first pressure; optionally supplying fuel to the coolant manifold(s) at a third pressure; applying a potential difference across at least one of the fuel cell assemblies; and measuring the transfer current across the fuel cell assembly or assemblies. A corresponding apparatus detects transfer leaks within solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells stacks.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of detecting transfer leaks within a fuel cell stack, said stack comprising:
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a plurality of fuel cell assemblies each comprising a membrane electrode assembly comprising an anode, a cathode, and an ion exchange membrane interposed therebetween, at least one fuel manifold fluidly connected to the fuel stream passages of said plurality of fuel cell assemblies, and at least one oxidant manifold fluidly connected to the oxidant stream passages of said plurality of fuel cell assemblies, said method comprising;
(a) supplying inert gas to said at least one oxidant manifold at a first pressure;
(b) supplying fuel to said at least one fuel manifold at a second pressure greater than or equal to said first pressure;
(c) applying a potential difference across at least one of said plurality of fuel cell assemblies such that the cathode of said at least one of said plurality of fuel cell assemblies is more positive than the anode thereof; and
(d) measuring the transfer current across said at least one fuel cell assembly. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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2. A method of detecting transfer leaks within a fuel cell stack, said stack comprising
a plurality of fuel cell assemblies each comprising a membrane electrode assembly comprising an anode, a cathode, and an ion exchange membrane interposed therebetween, coolant stream passages in thermal communication with at least a portion of said fuel cell assemblies, at least one fuel manifold fluidly connected to the fuel stream passages of said plurality of fuel cell assemblies, at least one oxidant manifold fluidly connected to the oxidant stream passages of said plurality of fuel cell assemblies, and at least one coolant manifold fluidly connected to said coolant stream passages, said method comprising: -
(a) supplying fuel to said at least one fuel manifold at a first pressure;
(b) supplying inert gas to said at least one oxidant manifold at a second pressure;
(c) supplying fuel to said at least one coolant manifold at a third pressure;
(d) applying a potential difference across at least one of said plurality of fuel cell assemblies such that the cathode of said at least one of said plurality of fuel cell assemblies is more positive than the anode thereof; and
(e) measuring the transfer current across said at least one fuel cell assembly, wherein said third pressure is greater than at least one of said first and second pressures. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5)
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3. A method of detecting transfer leaks within a fuel cell stack, said stack comprising
a plurality of fuel cell assemblies each comprising a membrane electrode assembly comprising an anode, a cathode, and an ion exchange membrane interposed therebetween, coolant stream passages in thermal communication with at least a portion of said fuel cell assemblies, at least one fuel manifold fluidly connected to the fuel stream passages of said plurality of fuel cell assemblies, at least one oxidant manifold fluidly connected to the oxidant stream passages of said plurality of fuel cell assemblies, and at least one coolant manifold fluidly connected to said coolant stream passages, said method comprising: -
(a) supplying inert gas to said at least one fuel manifold at a first pressure;
(b) supplying fuel to said at least one oxidant manifold at a second pressure;
(c) supplying fuel to said at least one coolant manifold at a third pressure;
(d) applying a potential difference across at least one of said plurality of fuel cell assemblies such that the anode of said at least one of said plurality of fuel cell assemblies is more positive than the cathode thereof; and
(e) measuring the transfer current across said at least one fuel cell assembly, wherein said third pressure is greater than at least one of said first and second pressures.
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12. An apparatus for detecting transfer leaks within a fuel cell stack, said stack comprising a plurality of fuel cell assemblies, at least one fuel manifold fluidly connected to said plurality of fuel cell assemblies, and at least one oxidant manifold fluidly connected to said plurality of fuel cell assemblies, said apparatus comprising:
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(a) a fuel source fluidly connectable to said at least one fuel manifold for supplying fuel thereto at a first pressure;
(b) an inert gas source fluidly connectable to said at least one oxidant manifold for supplying inert gas thereto at a second pressure;
(c) a DC power supply connectable to at least one of said plurality of fuel cell assemblies; and
(d) at least one device for measuring the transfer current across at least one of said plurality of fuel cell assemblies. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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13. An apparatus for detecting transfer leaks within a fuel cell stack, said stack comprising
a plurality of fuel cell assemblies each comprising a membrane electrode assembly comprising an anode, a cathode, and an ion exchange membrane interposed therebetween, coolant stream passages in thermal communication with at least a portion of said fuel cell assemblies, at least one fuel manifold fluidly connected to said plurality of fuel cell assemblies, at least one oxidant manifold fluidly connected to said plurality of fuel cell assemblies, and at least one coolant manifold fluidly connected to said coolant stream passages, said apparatus comprising: -
(a) a first fuel source fluidly connectable to one of said fuel and oxidant manifolds for supplying fuel thereto at a first pressure;
(b) an inert gas source fluidly connectable to the other of said fuel and oxidant manifolds for supplying inert gas thereto at a second pressure;
(c) a second fuel source fluidly connectable to said at least one coolant manifold for supplying fuel thereto at a third pressure;
(d) a DC power supply connectable to at least one of said plurality of fuel cell assemblies; and
(e) at least one device for measuring the transfer current across at least one of said plurality of fuel cell assemblies. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification