Hydrogen concentration sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022178870-A1
Application number	US-202017114726-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 8, 2020
Priority date	Dec 8, 2020
Publication date	Jun 9, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

An illustrative example hydrogen concentration sensor includes a plurality of electrically conductive plates. A hydrogen evolving electrode assembly in a first location between two of the plates is configured to generate hydrogen. A detection electrode assembly in a second location between two of the plates is configured to provide an indication of a concentration of hydrogen in a fluid of interest. A plurality of isolating layers includes a first isolating layer at the first location between two of the plates and a second isolating layer at the second location between two of the plates. The first and second isolating layers each include a sealant that secures the two plates together and seals a perimeter around the electrode assembly at the corresponding location.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A hydrogen concentration sensor, comprising:
a plurality of electrically conductive plates; a hydrogen evolving electrode assembly in a first location between two of the plates, the hydrogen evolving electrode assembly being configured to generate hydrogen; a detection electrode assembly in a second location between two of the plates with at least one of the plates between the detection electrode assembly and the hydrogen evolving electrode assembly, the detection electrode assembly being configured to provide an indication of a concentration of hydrogen in a fluid of interest; and a plurality of isolating layers, a first one of the isolating layers being at the first location between two of the plates, a second one of the isolating layers being at the second location between two of the plates, the first and second isolating layers each including a sealant that secures the two plates together and seals a perimeter around the electrode assembly at the corresponding location.

2 . The hydrogen concentration sensor of claim 1 , wherein the isolating layers comprise a fluoropolymer and the sealant comprises a thermosetting polymer.

3 . The hydrogen concentration sensor of claim 2 , wherein the isolating layers each comprise polytetrafluoroethylene.

4 . The hydrogen concentration sensor of claim 3 , wherein the sealant comprises a fluoropolymer.

5 . The hydrogen concentration sensor of claim 1 , wherein
the first one of the isolating layers comprises three gaskets, one of the gaskets is received between two others of the gaskets, the two others of the gaskets include the sealant, and the one of the gaskets does not include the sealant.

6 . The hydrogen concentration sensor of claim 5 , wherein
the second one of the isolating layers comprises three gaskets, one of the gaskets of the second one of the isolating layers is received between two others of the gaskets of the second one of the isolating layers, the two others of the gaskets of the second one of the isolating layers include the sealant, and the one of the gaskets of the second one of the isolation layers does not include the sealant.

7 . The hydrogen concentration sensor of claim 6 , wherein
each electrode assembly includes two electrodes layers and a matrix layer between the two electrode layers, the one of the gaskets of each of the isolation layers includes a window, each matrix layer is situated in the window of the corresponding one of the gaskets, the two others of the gaskets of each of the isolation layers includes a window, each electrode layer has a portion exposed to the matrix layer through the window of the corresponding one of the two others of the gaskets.

8 . The hydrogen concentration sensor of claim 7 , wherein
a thickness of the electrode layers has a predetermined relationship to a thickness of the two others of the gaskets; and the thickness of the two others of the gaskets controls an amount of compression of the electrode layers.

9 . The hydrogen concentration sensor of claim 1 , wherein
the electrode assemblies each include a liquid electrolyte and the sealant provides a seal that maintains the liquid electrolyte in the electrode assembly.

10 . The hydrogen concentration sensor of claim 9 , wherein the liquid electrolyte comprises phosphoric acid.

11 . The hydrogen concentration sensor of claim 1 , wherein
each electrically conductive plate comprises graphite and there is an isolating layer including the sealant at each interface between adjacent plates.

13 . The hydrogen concentration sensor of claim 1 , wherein the sealant comprises a thermosetting fluoropolymer layer on the isolating layer.

12 . The hydrogen concentration sensor of claim 1 , wherein
the at least one separator plate includes a vent situated to allow hydrogen from the passage to exit the hydrogen concentration sensor; and the vent is situated to direct hydrogen exiting the vent away from the second opening.

14 . The hydrogen concentration sensor of claim 1 , wherein
the detection electrode assembly includes two electrode layers and a matrix layer between the two electrode layers; and a voltage across the two electrode layers provides the indication of the concentration of hydrogen.

15 . A method of assembling a hydrogen concentration sensor, the method comprising:
arranging a plurality of electrically conductive plates in a stack; positioning a hydrogen evolving electrode assembly in a first location in the stack between two of the plates, the hydrogen evolving electrode assembly being configured to generate hydrogen; positioning a detection electrode assembly in a second location in the stack between two of the plates with at least one of the plates between the detection electrode assembly and the hydrogen evolving electrode assembly, the detection electrode assembly being configured to provide an indication of a concentration of hydrogen in a fluid of interest; electrically isolating the plates from each other; and sealing a perimeter around each electrode assembly at the corresponding location using a sealant that adheres to the two plates at each location.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein electrically isolating the plates from each other includes positioning at least one isolating layer comprising a fluoropolymer between the plates.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the sealant comprises a thermosetting polymer layer on the at least one isolating layer.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the sealant comprises a fluoropolymer.

19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein
the electrode assemblies each include a liquid electrolyte and the sealant provides a seal that maintains the liquid electrolyte in the electrode assembly.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the liquid electrolyte comprises phosphoric acid.

Assignees

• Doosan Fuel Cell America Inc

Inventors

• Preston Joshua
• Soldini Marc

Classifications

• G01N33/005 Primary

  H2 · CPC title

• G01N27/4045 Primary

  for gases other than oxygen · CPC title

• Y02E60/50

  Fuel cells · CPC title

• H01M8/0444

  Concentration; Density (H01M8/04492 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01M8/0618

  Reforming processes, e.g. autothermal, partial oxidation or steam reforming · CPC title