Methods and systems for detecting defects in a fuel cell stack
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
G01M-003/04
G01N-029/04
G01N-033/00
G01M-003/22
출원번호
US-0792923
(2015-07-07)
등록번호
US-9945815
(2018-04-17)
발명자
/ 주소
Wilson, James
Ballantine, Arne
Gottmann, Matthias
Armstrong, Tad
Perry, Martin
Edmonston, David
Lesher, Michael
Baime, Joshua
출원인 / 주소
BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
대리인 / 주소
The Marbury Law Group PLLC
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
4
초록▼
A method for testing a fuel cell stack includes providing a fluid, such as an ammonia-containing fluid, in a first reactant flow path in a first portion of the fuel cell stack, detecting the presence of the fluid using a detector, such as an ammonia detector, positioned within or adjacent to a secon
A method for testing a fuel cell stack includes providing a fluid, such as an ammonia-containing fluid, in a first reactant flow path in a first portion of the fuel cell stack, detecting the presence of the fluid using a detector, such as an ammonia detector, positioned within or adjacent to a second portion of the fuel cell stack that is separated from the first portion of the fuel cell stack and determining the presence of a defect in the stack based on detecting the presence of the fluid. Further embodiments relate to testing a fuel cell stack using a microphone that detects an audio signal indicative of a stack defect.
대표청구항▼
1. A method of testing fuel cell stack components assembled in a fuel cell stack, comprising: providing a fluid in a first reactant flow path in a first portion of the fuel cell stack;detecting the presence of the fluid using a detector positioned within or adjacent to a second portion of the fuel c
1. A method of testing fuel cell stack components assembled in a fuel cell stack, comprising: providing a fluid in a first reactant flow path in a first portion of the fuel cell stack;detecting the presence of the fluid using a detector positioned within or adjacent to a second portion of the fuel cell stack that is separated from the first portion of the fuel cell stack; anddetermining the presence or absence of a defect in the stack based on detecting the presence of the fluid. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the fluid comprises ammonia and the detector comprises an ammonia detector. 3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of: (a) the second portion of the fuel cell stack is separated from the first portion of the fuel cell stack by at least one of a fuel cell electrolyte and a seal; and(b) the detector is positioned within or adjacent to a second reactant flow path of the fuel cell stack. 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the detector is positioned within or adjacent to a second reactant flow path of the fuel cell stack and the fuel cell stack is externally manifolded for the second reactant and comprises inlet and outlet openings of the second reactant flow path on one or more open side surfaces of the stack, and the detector is positioned adjacent to at least one outlet opening on an open side surface of the stack, and the fuel cell stack is internally manifolded for the first reactant and the fluid is provided into a first reactant riser opening. 5. The method of claim 4, wherein the detector comprises a planar surface that extends adjacent to multiple outlet openings on the open side surface of the stack. 6. The method of claim 5, wherein at least one of: (a) the planar surface of the detector extends adjacent to all of the outlet openings on the open side surface of the stack; and(b) the detector comprises a sheet having a planar surface that contains a material that is sensitive to a constituent of the fluid such that exposure to the constituent causes a localized change in coloration of the sheet;(c) the planar surface extends over at least about 50% of the surface area of the open side surface of the stack; and(d) the detector comprises a flexible sheet that extends over the open side surface and at least one additional side surface of the fuel cell stack. 7. The method of claim 5, wherein the detector comprises a sheet having a planar surface that contains a material that is sensitive to a constituent of the fluid such that exposure to the constituent causes a localized change in coloration of the sheet, and wherein at least one of: (a) the constituent of the fluid comprises ammonia; and(b) the method further comprises determining a location of a defect in the stack based on a location of the detected fluid based on a local change in coloration of the sheet. 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first reactant flow path is a fuel path through at least one riser channel that extends through the fuel cell stack through a plurality of fuel cells separated by a plurality of interconnects, and the fuel cell stack comprises a second externally-manifolded air flow path, and the detector is positioned within or adjacent to the air flow path. 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first reactant flow path is an externally manifolded air flow path, and the fuel cell stack comprises a second fuel flow path through at least one riser channel that extends through the fuel cell stack through a plurality of fuel cells separated by a plurality of interconnects, and the detector is positioned within or adjacent to the at least one riser channel. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the stack comprises a plurality of fuel cells separated by a plurality of interconnects and a plurality of seals that seal the plurality of fuel cells to the plurality of interconnects along at least one closed side surface of the fuel cell stack, and the detector is positioned adjacent to the at least one closed side surface of the stack. 11. The method of claim 10, wherein at least one of: (a) the detector comprises a planar surface that is positioned adjacent to all of the seals along the at least one closed side surface of the stack; and(b) the detector comprises a flexible sheet having a planar surface that contains a material that is sensitive to a constituent of the fluid such that exposure to the constituent causes a localized change in coloration of the sheet, and the flexible sheet is positioned adjacent to at least two side surfaces of the stack. 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the detector comprises a flexible sheet having a planar surface that contains a material that is sensitive to a constituent of the fluid such that exposure to the constituent causes a localized change in coloration of the sheet, and the flexible sheet is positioned adjacent to at least two side surfaces of the stack, and wherein at least one of: (a) the constituent of the fluid comprises ammonia; and(b) the flexible sheet is positioned adjacent to at least one closed side surface and at least one open side surface of the stack, wherein the at least one open side surface comprises at least one outlet opening of a second reactant flow path. 13. The method of claim 1, wherein: (a) the defect in the stack comprises at least one of a defective seal and a crack in an electrolyte of the fuel cell stack;(b) the method is performed at a temperature between about 0° C. and about 50° C.; and(c) the fuel cell stack comprises a solid oxide fuel cell stack. 14. The method of claim 1, wherein the defect in the stack comprises at least one of a defective seal and a crack in an electrolyte of the fuel cell stack, the method further comprising: replacing the at least one of the defective seal and the cracked electrolyte in response to determining the presence of a defect in the stack. 15. A method of testing fuel cell stack components assembled in a fuel cell stack, comprising: providing a pressurized fluid in a first reactant flow path of the fuel cell stack;detecting an audio signal using a microphone positioned within or adjacent to a second portion of the stack that is separated from the first reactant flow path; anddetermining the presence or absence of a defect in the stack based on the detected audio signal. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one of: (a) the second portion of the fuel cell stack is separated from the first reactant flow path by at least one of a fuel cell electrolyte and a seal;(b) the method is performed at a temperature between about 0° C. and about 50° C.;(c) the fuel cell stack comprises a solid oxide fuel cell stack; and(d) providing the pressurized fluid comprises flowing the fluid into the first reactant flow path of the fuel cell stack and sealing outlet to the first reactant flow path to contain the fluid within the first reactant flow path at elevated pressure. 17. The method of claim 15, wherein determining the presence of a defect comprises analyzing the detected audio signal using a logic device coupled to the microphone to determine a characteristic of the detected audio signal, and determining the presence of a defect when the characteristic is indicative of a defect. 18. The method of claim 15, wherein the stack is externally manifolded for a second reactant and comprises inlet and outlet openings of a second reactant flow path on one or more open side surfaces of the fuel cell stack, and the microphone is positioned adjacent to at least one outlet opening on an open side surface of the fuel cell stack. 19. The method of claim 18, wherein an audio signal is detected from within or adjacent to each outlet opening on the open side surface of the fuel cell stack. 20. The method of claim 15, wherein at least one of: (a) the first reactant flow path is a fuel path through at least one riser channel that extends through the fuel cell stack through a plurality of fuel cells separated by a plurality of interconnects, and the fuel cell stack comprises a second externally-manifolded air flow path, and the microphone is positioned within or adjacent to the air flow path;(b) the first reactant flow path is an externally manifolded air flow path, and the fuel cell stack comprises a second fuel flow path through at least one riser channel that extends through the fuel cell stack through a plurality of fuel cells separated by a plurality of interconnects, and the microphone is positioned within or adjacent to the at least one riser channel; and(c) the fuel cell stack comprises a plurality of fuel cells separated by a plurality of interconnects and a plurality of seals that seal the plurality of fuel cells to the plurality of interconnects along at least one closed side surface of the fuel cell stack, and the audio signal is detected using a microphone positioned adjacent to at least one seal along a closed side surface of the fuel cell stack.
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