Inspection apparatus of electrolyte membrane

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10569228-B2
Application number	US-201816168428-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 23, 2018
Priority date	Mar 18, 2015
Publication date	Feb 25, 2020
Grant date	Feb 25, 2020

Abstract

An inspection apparatus of an electrolyte membrane is provided. The apparatus includes a lower supporter having a gas line through which gas flows or a concave portion that stores the gas. An upper supporter is disposed at an upper side of the lower supporter, and includes an opening. A membrane-electrode assembly is disposed between the lower supporter and the upper supporter. An upper cover covers an upper portion of the opening, and is formed with a plurality of partitions. An exhaust port is formed at the upper supporter to exhaust deionized water.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An inspection apparatus for damage of an electrolyte membrane in a membrane-electrode assembly, comprising:
a lower supporter formed with a deionized water inflow line through which deionized water flows;
an upper supporter disposed at an upper side of the lower supporter, and formed with an opening, wherein the membrane-electrode assembly is disposed between the lower supporter and the upper supporter; and
an upper cover that covers an upper portion of the opening and is formed with a plurality of partitions,
wherein a level of the deionized water formed at any of the plurality of partitions indicates a size of a damaged portion of the electrolyte membrane.

2. The inspection apparatus for damage of the electrolyte membrane of claim 1 , wherein a concave portion is formed at a center portion of the lower supporter, and the deionized water inflow line communicates with the concave portion.

3. The inspection apparatus for damage of the electrolyte membrane of claim 2 , wherein a deionized water exhaust line that communicates with the concave portion is formed at the lower supporter.

4. The inspection apparatus for damage of the electrolyte membrane of claim 2 , wherein a lower gasket is disposed between the lower supporter and the membrane-electrode assembly.

5. The inspection apparatus for damage of the electrolyte membrane of claim 4 , wherein the lower gasket or the upper gasket includes fluorine or EPDM (ethylene propylene diene M-class) rubber.

6. The inspection apparatus for damage of the electrolyte membrane of claim 2 , wherein an upper gasket is disposed between the upper supporter and the membrane-electrode assembly.

7. The inspection apparatus for damage of the electrolyte membrane of claim 2 , wherein a plurality of cover guide bores are formed at the upper cover and a plurality of cover engagement bores are formed at position that corresponds to the cover guide bores in the upper supporter.

8. The inspection apparatus for damage of the electrolyte membrane of claim 1 , wherein the partitions are disposed with a constant gap along a horizontal direction and a vertical direction.

9. The inspection apparatus for damage of the electrolyte membrane of claim 1 , wherein a ruler is provided at each of the plurality of partitions.

10. The inspection apparatus for damage of the electrolyte membrane of claim 1 , wherein: a plurality of upper engagement bores are formed at the upper supporter and a plurality of lower engagement bores are formed at a position that corresponds to the upper engagement bores in the lower supporter.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Motors Corp

Inventors

• Ko Jae Jun
• Pi Hyun Young
• Jeong Kwi Seong

Classifications

• H01M8/1004

  characterised by membrane-electrode assemblies [MEA] (H01M8/12 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01M8/04664 Primary

  Failure or abnormal function · CPC title

• H01M8/04

  Auxiliary arrangements, e.g. for control of pressure or for circulation of fluids · CPC title

• H01M2250/20

  Fuel cells in motive systems, e.g. vehicle, ship, plane · CPC title

• B01D2325/42

  Ion-exchange membranes · CPC title