Defect Detection in Fuel Cell Gas Diffusion Electrodes Using Infrared Thermography

Bittinat, Daniel C.; Bender, Guido; Porter, Jason M.; Ulsh, Michael

doi:10.1149/05801.0495ecst

Cited by 8 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…Transient thermal imaging technology is a popular accepted technique for large area detection can be done quickly and without contact, and because real images of defects can be easily recorded and analyzed in [4][5][6][7]. Infrared NDT has been widely used in aerospace, nuclear power, petrochemical industry due to its non-contact, high efficiency, simple operation and no coupling [8][9][10]. Infrared thermal wave non-destructive detection is mainly divided into pulsed infrared thermal imaging [11], phase-locked thermal imaging [12], ultrasonic thermal imaging [13].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The infrared thermal wave imaging detection of micro-crack defects in Ti-Al alloy plate

Zhang

Liu

et al. 2019

THERM SCI

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The Ti-Al alloy has good physical, chemical and mechanical properties, and it is the preferred material in aerospace and other special fields. The laser spots array is used for thermal excitation of the Ti-Al alloy specimen. Based on the fractional differential equation and Fourier heat conduction equation, the fractional heat transfer model of Ti-Al alloy plate specimen ex-cited by short pulse laser spots array is established, and the infrared thermal imaging simulation analysis is carried out by finite element method. The effects of crack width, crack depth and the distance between the crack and its nearest laser spot center on temperature abrupt jump is analyzed. With the increase of crack width and depth, the temperature abrupt jump increases, but the trend gradually slows down. The distance between the crack and its nearest laser spot center has a significant effect on the temperature abrupt jump. With the increase of the distance, the temperature abrupt jump first increases and then decreases. When the distance equals the laser spot radius, that is, the crack is tangent to the spot, the temperature abrupt jump reaches its maximum.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The infrared thermal wave imaging detection of micro-crack defects in Ti-Al alloy plate

Zhang

Liu

et al. 2019

THERM SCI

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“…All of these processes must be within certain quality control measures to satisfy the MEA quality requirements that will enable broad commercialization . In‐line diagnostics tools to monitor quality have been developed at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and have been used to successfully detect a variety of electrode coating irregularities in a R2R manufacturing setting . However, to date, limited understanding exists regarding if and to what extent electrode irregularities impact PEMFC performance and lifetime.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Utilizing a Segmented Fuel Cell to Study the Effects of Electrode Coating Irregularities on PEM Fuel Cell Initial Performance

et al. 2017

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An understanding of the impact of coating irregularities on beginning of life polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEMFC) performance is essential to develop and establish manufacturing tolerances for its components. Coating irregularities occurring in the fuel cell electrode can either possess acceptable process variations or potentially harmful defects. A segmented fuel cell (SFC) is employed to understand how 100% catalyst reduction irregularities ranging from 0.125 to 1 cm2 in the cathode electrode of a 50 cm2 sized cell impact spatial and total cell performance at dry and wet humidification conditions. By analyzing the data in a differential format the local performance effects of irregularity sizes down to 0.25 cm2 were detected in the current distribution of the cell. Slight total cell performance impacts, due to irregularity sizes of 0.5 and 1 cm2, were observed under dry operation and high current densities.

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“…Infrared (IR) thermography with active excitation of the GDE material is a nondestructive evaluation tool that allows for complete, rapid, and noncontact defect detection [19][20][21]. We have demonstrated the feasibility of IR thermography coupled with direct-current (DC) electronicexcitation of catalyst-coated membranes [22] on an industrial-scale webline and reactive-flowthrough (RFT) [23,24] excitation on stationary, enclosed GDEs. For RFT, a nonflammable (< 4% H 2 ) reactive mixture of H 2 /O 2 in N 2 is flowed through the GDE where the catalytic reaction on the Pt surface generates heat, creating a measurable thermal signature.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reactive impinging-flow technique for polymer-electrolyte-fuel-cell electrode-defect detection

Zenyuk

Englund

Bender

et al. 2016

Journal of Power Sources

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Reactive impinging flow (RIF) is a novel quality-control method for defect detection (i.e., reduction in Pt catalyst loading) in gas-diffusion electrodes (GDEs) on weblines. The technique uses infrared thermography to detect temperature of a nonflammable (<4% H 2) reactive mixture of H 2 /O 2 in N 2 impinging and reacting on a Pt catalytic surface. In this paper, different GDE size defects (with catalyst-loading reductions of 25, 50, and 100%) are detected at various webline speeds (3.048 and 9.144 m min-1) and gas flowrates (32.5 or 50 standard L min-1). Furthermore, a model is developed and validated for the technique, and it is subsequently used to optimize operating conditions and explore the applicability of the technique to a range of defects. The model suggests that increased detection can be achieved by recting more of the impinging H 2 , which can be accomplished by placing blocking substrates on the top, bottom, or both of the GDE; placing a substrate on both results in a factor of four increase in the ΔT (factor of four), which is needed for smaller defect detection. Overall, the RIF technique is shown to be a promising route for in-line, high-speed, large-area detection of GDE defects on moving weblines.

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Defect Detection in Fuel Cell Gas Diffusion Electrodes Using Infrared Thermography

Cited by 8 publications

References 2 publications

The infrared thermal wave imaging detection of micro-crack defects in Ti-Al alloy plate

The infrared thermal wave imaging detection of micro-crack defects in Ti-Al alloy plate

Utilizing a Segmented Fuel Cell to Study the Effects of Electrode Coating Irregularities on PEM Fuel Cell Initial Performance

Reactive impinging-flow technique for polymer-electrolyte-fuel-cell electrode-defect detection

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