Ex-situ PEM fuel cell testing: towards visualizing gas diffusion

• Main Author: KASCHAK DAVID M
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 11.01.2005
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; CHEMISTRY; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTINGELECTRIC POWER; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER; ELECTRICITY; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERATION; INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIRCHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES; MEASURING; METALLURGY; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; PHYSICS; PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSIONOF CHEMICAL INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY; SEPARATION; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TESTING; TRANSPORTING; TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE

The invention comprises novel apparatuses and testing methods for evaluating a fluid diffusion component. The apparatus includes a fluid capable of undergoing oxidation or reduction, a half-cell electrode assembly able to receive the fluid, and a change in acidity indicator in communication with the assembly. An inventive method of the invention includes the steps of passing a fluid capable of undergoing oxidation or reduction through a half-cell electrode assembly to form a sample, contacting the sample with an indicator, and detecting a change in acidity in the indicator.