Testing device for a fuel cell stack

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11424472-B2
Application number	US-201916704105-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 5, 2019
Priority date	Jul 26, 2017
Publication date	Aug 23, 2022
Grant date	Aug 23, 2022

Abstract

A testing device for a fuel cell stack has multiple fuel cells which are stacked along a stack axis with each having media openings in the form of through-holes. Corresponding media openings align to form media lines when in the stacked state. The testing device has a rod which can be introduced into a media line, and at least one sealing element which is arranged on the rod to seal off the media line and to isolate at least one fuel cell of the fuel cell stack from the other fuel cells, and/or at least one contact element which can be introduced with the rod to make electrical contact with an individual fuel cell inside the media line.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A testing device for a fuel cell stack, wherein the fuel cell stack comprises a plurality of fuel cells which are stacked along a stack axis and each have media openings in a form of through-apertures, and wherein, in a stacked state, corresponding media openings align to form media lines, wherein the testing device comprises:
a rod which is introducible into a media line; and
at least three spaced-apart sealing elements arranged on the rod for sealing the media line in order to isolate at least one fuel cell of the fuel cell stack from remaining fuel cells and to form at least two testing sections, each with at least one separated fuel cell; and/or
at least one contact element which is introducible with the rod for making electrical contact with an individual fuel cell within the media line,
wherein a fluid opening is formed on each of the at least two testing sections, and
for each of the at least two testing sections, the rod comprises a fluid line which is connected to the fluid opening.

2. The testing device according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least three spaced-apart sealing elements are introducible with the rod into the media line.

3. The testing device according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least three spaced-apart sealing elements are inflatable to provide sealing.

4. The testing device according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least three spaced-apart sealing elements are retractable and extendable radially with respect to the rod.

5. The testing device according to claim 1 , wherein
each of the at least three spaced-apart sealing elements comprise at least one elastic annular sealing lip, a size and shape of which correspond to the media openings of the media line.

6. The testing device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
at least two spaced-apart contact elements for simultaneously making contact with two fuel cells in the media line.

7. The testing device according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one contact element is arranged on one of the at least three spaced-apart sealing elements.

8. The testing device according to claim 1 , wherein
the at least one contact element is a sliding contact which slides on the fuel cells when the rod is introduced.

9. The testing device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a detection unit arranged on the rod that detects a position of the rod relative to an individual fuel cell.

10. The testing device according to claim 9 , wherein
the detection unit is a sensor or camera.

11. A method for testing a fuel cell stack, wherein the fuel cell stack comprises a plurality of fuel cells which are stacked along a stack axis and each have media openings in a form of through-apertures, and wherein, in a stacked state, corresponding media openings align to form media lines, wherein the method comprises:
introducing a testing device into one of the media lines;
sealing the media line with the testing device in order to isolate at least one fuel cell of the fuel cell stack from remaining fuel cells, and acting upon the at least one isolated fuel cell with a fluid for measuring tightness, measuring flow rate or measuring pressure drop, and/or
making electrical contact with an individual fuel cell within the media line with the testing device, making electrical contact with the fuel cell stack at a further point, and carrying out a short circuit measurement between the two contacts.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein
two testing devices are introduced respectively into two media lines,
the two media lines are connected via media channels which run in the fuel cells perpendicularly to the stack axis, and
with the two testing devices, the same at least one fuel cell of the fuel cell stack is separated from the remaining fuel cells.

Assignees

• Bayerische Motoren Werke Ag

Inventors

• Hirschfeld Julian Arndt
• Schmid Johannes

Classifications

• H01M8/0438

  Pressure; Ambient pressure; Flow · CPC title

• Y02E60/50

  Fuel cells · CPC title

• H01M8/04753

  of fuel cell reactants · CPC title

• H01M8/04664

  Failure or abnormal function · CPC title

• H01M8/2465 Primary

  Details of groupings of fuel cells · CPC title