Identifying fuel cell defects
AssigneeTeradyne, Inc.
InventorsAnthony J. Suto, Alexander H. Slocum, R. Scott Ziegenhagen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A test system for testing a unit such as multiple solid oxide fuel cells. The test system includes a thermal test chamber in which a non-contact electrostatic voltage probe is mounted to scan the solid oxide fuel cells. The test system includes a detector coupled to the voltage probe to produce an output signal or display based on the measured voltages. The measured voltages are processed to compute a representative voltage for each fuel cell and to identify any defective fuel cells based on the measured voltages. The test system may be used during manufacture of solid oxide fuel cell stacks for cost effective testing to lower manufacturing costs.
Claims10
A method of testing a unit comprising a fuel cell, the method comprising:
- obtaining at least one non-contact voltage measurement of the unit;
- determining, from the at least one non-contact voltage measurement, a voltage of the fuel cell;
- and
- determining whether the fuel cell contains a defect based on the determined voltage, wherein:
- obtaining the at least one non-contact voltage measurement comprises:
- obtaining a plurality of non-contact voltage measurements by scanning a non-contact voltage probe along a surface of the unit;
- and
- recording, for each of the plurality of non-contact voltage measurements, the non-contact voltage measurement and the corresponding location on the unit.
A method of testing a unit comprising a fuel cell, the method comprising:
- obtaining at least one non-contact voltage measurement of the unit;
- determining, from the at least one non-contact voltage measurement, a voltage of the fuel cell;
- and
- determining whether the fuel cell contains a defect based on the determined voltage, wherein:
- the method further comprises bringing the unit to an operating temperature greater than 500 degrees Celsius;
- and
- the at least one non-contact voltage measurement of the unit is obtained while the unit is at the operating temperature.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.