Back to results
US 9,176,085 B2Granted
Crack detection in ceramics using electrical conductors
AssigneeBloom Energy Corporation
InventorsMatthias Gottmann, Sanjiv Kapoor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Various embodiments provide methods and systems for detecting cracks in ceramic electrolytes using electrical conductors. A method for testing an electrolyte material, such as a ceramic electrolyte material for use in a solid oxide fuel cell device, includes providing a conductive path on the electrolyte material, electrically connecting a probe across the conductive path, and measuring a value associated with the conductive path to determine the presence or absence of a crack in the material.
Claims12
A fuel cell, comprising:
- an electrolyte;
- an anode electrode;
- a cathode electrode;
- and
- a conductive path on the electrolyte comprising at least one of a conductive trace and a wire directly contacting the electrolyte and electrically isolated from the anode electrode and the cathode electrode,
- wherein deviation of an electrical characteristic of the conductive path by a predetermined amount indicates the presence of a crack in the electrolyte.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.