AT525432A4 - Testing station for at least partially parallel testing of at least two fuel cells - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a test station (10) for testing at least two fuel cells (100) in parallel, at least in part, characterized by a housing (20) in which at least two cell receptacles (30) for each receiving a fuel cell (100) are arranged, wherein each cell holder (30) has a holding device (32) for holding the accommodated fuel cell (100) in a test position (PP), with an anode-side gas cavity (33) being located above and below the fuel cell (100) in the test position (PP) and a cathode-side gas cavity (34) for operating the fuel cell (100) with supply gases (ZG) and exhaust gases (AG), each cell receptacle (30) also having an anode gas supply (35) and an anode gas exhaust (36) in fluid communication with the gas cavity (33) on the anode side and a cathode gas supply (37) and a cathode gas outlet (38) in fluid communication with the gas cavity (34) on the cathode side, with at least one heating device (40) for active heating of the cell receptacles (30 ) is arranged.

Description

Test station for at least partially parallel testing of at least

two fuel cells

The present invention relates to a test station for at least partially parallel testing of at least two fuel cells and a test method for

the conduct of such an examination.

It is known that fuel cells are to be tested with regard to a large number of different parameters. For example, this takes place as part of research and development work when new fuel cell materials, new fuel cell geometries or the like are to be checked with regard to their usability. When checking a production batch, a sample of a defined number of fuel cells can also be checked to ensure the quality of this batch. Known testing capabilities include test stations capable of testing a single fuel cell under different operating conditions. In addition to the use of supply gases and discharge gases for the two sides of a fuel cell, the operating conditions also include, in particular, temperature profiles for these fuel cells. For example, it can be important for a test report to show the fuel cell in different operating

to check temperatures.

A fuel cell is to be understood in particular as any type and any form of fuel cell, for example AFC, DMFC or for example MCFC types. Fuel cells can also be used for different modes of operation and different fuel gases, for example for SOFC operation or PEM operation. This is the part of the fuel cell that provides the electrochemical efficiency and, through ion permeability, the electrochemical coupling between an anode side and a cathode side for the generation of electricity from a fuel on the one hand and oxygen-containing air on the other page guaranteed. A fuel cell, ie at least this fuel cell membrane and/or such a membrane with a corresponding border, is within the scope of the present application. For later operation in a fuel cell system, such fuel cells are usually stacked a fuel cell stack or in combination with other

Ren fuel cell stacks form a fuel cell system.

very large and can therefore only be carried out in a mass operation with great effort.

It is the object of the present invention to at least partially eliminate the disadvantages described above. In particular, it is the object of the present invention to provide a possibility in a cost-effective and simple manner

to test a large number of fuel cells at the same time.

The above object is achieved by a test station with the features of claim 1 and a test method with the features of claim 15. Further features and details of the invention result from the dependent claims, the description and the drawings. Features and details that are described in connection with the test station according to the invention also apply, of course, in connection with the test method according to the invention and vice versa, so that with regard to the disclosure of the individual invention

aspects are or can always be mutually referred to.

According to the invention, a test station is used for testing at least two fuel cells at least partially in parallel in terms of time. For this purpose, the test station is characterized by a housing in which at least two cell receptacles are arranged, each for accommodating one fuel cell. Each cell mount comes with a

Equipped with a holding device for holding the recorded fuel cell in

concerned, both implementations are possible within the scope of the present invention.

The core idea according to the invention is based on two essential partial features. On the one hand, a plurality of at least two cell receptacles are arranged in the housing. It is thus possible that with at least two cell receptacles, at least two fuel cells can also be introduced into these cell receptacles and thus into the test station for testing at the same time. The other crucial feature is the integration of the heating device into this test station. While the test stations in known solutions were designed exclusively for a single fuel cell, which then had to be placed in an external oven after the fuel cell had been connected to the fluidics, the integration of the heating device in the housing is now able to heat directly of the fuel cells within all cell receptacles. It should be noted that the advantages according to the invention of testing a large number of fuel cells at the same time are already achieved when the heating device, as a heating device integrated in the housing, heats the entire housing and thus all cell receptacles and the fuel cells arranged therein together. However, it can be preferred, as will be explained later, if individual cell receptacles or even all cell receptacles have heating means that can be controlled separately, so that there is a specific possibility of controlling the temperature of the individual fuel cells in the individual cell receptacles.

can be guaranteed.

be set. This includes, for example, AFC, DMFC or MCFC types.

In a test station according to the invention, it is now possible to introduce the fuel cells into the respective cell receptacle, for example via slot-like openings or openings that are otherwise adapted to the geometry of the respective fuel cell. The fuel cells are positioned and held in a defined test position by the holding device in it. In this test position, the gas cavity on the cathode side and the gas cavity on the anode side are preferably also sealed, so that safe operation of the respective fuel cell can be ensured for the test. Once at least one fuel cell has now been placed within a cell nest, testing can take place. During this testing process, it is conceivable that another cell receptacle could be fitted. Depending on the type of test, it is possible to equip all cell recordings with fuel cells at the same time and then to carry out a test run for all recorded fuel cells essentially completely in parallel. However, sequential or at least partially sequential work is also conceivable if, for example, after the end of a test run, the fuel cell is removed from one cell receptacle and replaced by another fuel cell, while other cell receptacles

took the exam is still ongoing.

As can be seen from the brief explanation of the sequence above, a test that is clearly compressed in terms of time is now possible in comparison to the previous solutions. In particular, when different fuel cell geometries are to be subjected to a common test routine in a research project, this can now be carried out at the same time, since different

Fuel cell geometries, but also different fuel cell materials,

test station according to the invention.

The test station is able to test a wide variety of parameters. In addition to the temperature curves already explained, it is also possible that different gas compositions or different modes of operation, for example different pressure situations, can be tested. It is thus possible to carry out different test protocols with different test curves in a common test station. An external heating source in the form of an external oven is therefore no longer necessary. The faster heating up and the faster cooling down directly in the cell holder due to the smaller volumes brings with it an initial time advantage. At the same time, for the same reason, less energy is required for the entire heating operation to carry out the test. Last but not least, parallel testing is able to achieve a decisive time advantage if a large number of fuel cells are to be

time to be checked.

It should also be pointed out that the arrangement of the gas cavities can be adapted depending on the geometry of the fuel cell. While with flat or button

shaped fuel cells, the two gas cavities above and below the

be.

There can be advantages if, in the case of a test station according to the invention, connection means for an electrical connection of the fuel cell are arranged in the housing, in particular on each cell receptacle, in the test position. Such electrical connection means can be plug contacts or sliding contacts, for example. Contacts are preferred which automatically make the electrical connection available when the fuel cell is brought into the test position. For this purpose, the electrical connection means can have sliding surfaces, which are in particular spring-loaded in order to ensure reliable electrical contact. The connection means can form part of the holding device

and form, for example, physically contacting holding sections.

In addition, there can be advantages if, in a test station according to the invention, the heating device has at least one heating means in at least one cell receptacle, for specific and direct heating of a fuel cell accommodated in this cell receptacle in the test position, the heating device having in particular heating means in each cell receptacle, for a specific and direct and specific heating of fuel cells accommodated in the cell holders in the test position. As has already been explained at the outset, the advantages according to the invention can in principle already be achieved if a common heating device is provided for all or for a plurality of cell receptacles. For an even more specific execution of test protocols, however, this embodiment has further advantages. Thus, by introducing at least one heating means into at least one cell receptacle, the advantage is achieved that for precisely this one cell receptacle, a specific temperature curve for the

Test report can be generated. In other words, if multiple or

respective heating means can be further accelerated.

It can also bring advantages if the at least one heating means is designed to be exchangeable and/or supplementable in a test station according to the invention in accordance with the preceding paragraph. As has also already been explained at the outset, a test station according to the invention can be used for different temperature ranges. If this is used, for example, for fuel cells for SOFC cell systems, the heating means must be able to provide correspondingly high temperatures of up to 1000°C. However, if the test station is intended for PEM, it is sufficient if the heating means can generate correspondingly lower temperatures of around 100 °C, for example. In order to be able to design a test station as flexibly as possible, the heating means can be exchangeable, so that the test station and also the individual cell receptacles can be adapted to the testing of different types of fuel cells. Supplementing additional heating means for individual cell receptacles with corresponding receptacle sections can also bring advantages in order to vary not only the temperature itself, but also the desired amount of heat that is to be transported into the cell receptacle.

In addition, it can be advantageous if the heating device has at least one heating means in the form of a heat pipe in a test station according to the invention. Such a heat pipe can be referred to in English with the technical term heat pipe. Such a heat pipe is a particularly efficient way of providing low-loss heat transport from a heat source to a heat sink in the area of the cell receptacle for the fuel cell. Included

the known according to a heat pipe design is provided, so that a

educated.

Further advantages can result if the heating device in a test station according to the invention has at least one electrical heat source, in particular a specific electrical heat source for each heating means of the heating device. In other words, if each cell receptacle has one or more specific heating means, it becomes possible for each cell receptacle to also have an associated specific heating device. This makes it possible to ensure not only direct heating for each cell receptacle, but also specific heating with a temperature curve specific to this cell receptacle. This makes it possible to achieve a high degree of flexibility with the help of an electrical, and therefore inexpensive, and easy to control

stability can be guaranteed for the test station.

There are further advantages if, in a test station according to the invention, the cell receptacles are thermally insulated from one another and/or from the environment. This means that, for example, with thermally insulating material which is arranged between the cell receptacles and/or which shields the housing from the environment, a heat exchange with the environment and/or with neighboring cell receptacles is significantly reduced. With regard to the insulation against the environment, this leads to lower heat losses and

to a better energetic sealing, so that a lower energetic

Insulation by vacuum or air gaps must be guaranteed.

It can also be advantageous if the cathode gas supply, the cathode gas discharge, the anode gas supply and/or the anode gas discharge have a valve device for controlling the respective gas flow in a test station according to the invention. This means that, for example, the quantity, the pressure and/or the composition of the respective gas flow can be adjusted. Controllable ball valves or similar can be used here. The valve device is thus able to control both the supply gas and the exhaust gas in a controlling and/or regulating manner. This can be guaranteed purely qualitatively if, for example, individual cell recordings are to be switched on or off. However, a quantitative control of the individual valve devices is also conceivable in order to achieve an even more flexible application accuracy and in particular a specific implementation of different parameter variations for the individual

to ensure cell recordings.

In addition, there can be advantages if, in a test station according to the invention, the holding device of each cell receptacle is adapted to a geometry of the fuel cell to be received. Depending on the later application situation in the fuel cell system and/or in the fuel cell stack, fuel cells can have different external geometries. In addition to plate-shaped or disk-shaped geometries, button cell-type fuel cells and cylindrical fuel cells are also known. Depending on which geometric shape of fuel cell is desired, the cell recording, in particular with regard to the gas cavities that form, can be adapted to the actual external geometry to be tested

Fuel cell are structurally adapted.

can be made available equipped.

It can also be advantageous if, in a test station according to the invention, the cell holder and/or the heating device has one or more temperature sensors. In the cell holder, it is possible to determine the temperature in the cell holder and thus approximately the temperature of the fuel cell yourself. The temperature of the heating means can be determined in the heating device, in particular in a heating means, so that the heating quality and/or the heating quantity can be determined. In particular, both temperatures can be determined so that the temperature gradient and thus the heating rate between the heating device and the cell holder, and thus also the fuel

cell, becomes controllable.

It is also advantageous if, in a test station according to the invention, the holding device has at least in sections a thermal bridge made of heat-conducting material to the heating device, in particular to the at least one heating means. A thermal bridge is essentially to be understood as the opposite of thermal insulation and, in particular, has a thermally conductive material. It serves to provide a thermally conductive contact between the heating means of the heating device on the one hand and the holding device, in particular even making direct contact with the fuel cell itself. the better

and loss-free and in particular the lower-resistance the heat transport from the

since temperature increases can be implemented more quickly.

Further advantages can result if a gas analysis device is arranged in the cathode gas outlet and/or in the anode gas outlet in a test station according to the invention. Such a gas analysis device can be provided specifically for each individual cell receptacle. It is preferred if the gas analysis device is arranged once in the test housing via valve switches, and the gas analysis device is always only charged with the exhaust gas from a cell receptacle via these valve switches. This makes it possible to record not only electrical control barometers but also gas control parameters for the respective cell recording and to make the test result available when the test protocol is carried out. The gas analysis can also be used to detect an unwanted operating condition, for example, in order to then switch directly to the current

influence the test program.

In addition, there can be advantages if the housing of a test station according to the invention is of modular design, in particular having module interfaces for mechanical, fluid-communicating and/or signal-communicating connection to a housing of at least one further test station. In other words, it becomes possible to develop the test station into a test station system by connecting two or more test stations to one another via the module interfaces. In addition to a simple mechanical fixing of several test stations next to one another, fluid communication of the gas supply and the gas discharge and/or signal communication with a central control module is also conceivable. This means that the individual test stations can be combined in such a test station system, for example for different fuel cell geometries. The combined test stations can also have different heating devices in order to

different temperature ranges for different test runs

by using the appropriate test stations.

The subject of the present invention is also a test method for at least partially parallel testing of at least two fuel cells, in particular in a test station according to the invention. Such a test

is characterized by the following steps:

— Insertion of one fuel cell in each cell holder of the test station,

— heating the fuel cell using the heater, — operating the fuel cells using supply gases and exhaust gases.

By using a test station according to the invention, a test method according to the invention brings with it the same advantages as described in detail with reference to FIG

a test station according to the invention have been explained.

Such a test method can be further developed such that a specific temperature check is carried out for at least one cell receptacle, in particular for all cell receptacles. This is particularly the case when specific heating means are provided for each cell receptacle, so that this specific controllability is represented by the corresponding features and the design in the test station. This allows a specific temperature specification to be made independently of one another in terms of time and location for each cell receptacle at any time, which is then implemented by the heating device. The same preferably also applies to a specific specification of different pressures, gas compositions or gas quantities, which are set specifically for the individual cell receptacles by the valve devices and/or gas mixing devices already explained

can.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention result from the following description, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in detail with reference to the drawings. It show schematic

table:

13 Fig. 1 an embodiment of a test station according to the invention, Fig. 2 a further embodiment of a test station according to the invention, Fig. 3 a schematic cross section of a cell receptacle, Fig. 4 a further cross section through a cell receptacle, Fig. 5 a schematic cross section through a test station, Fig Fig. 6 shows a schematic cross section through a test station, Fig. 7 shows a schematic cross section through a test station.

FIG. 1 shows schematically how a test station 10 can be designed. This is provided with a housing 20 and has slot-shaped cell receptacles 30 here. These are each formed here in three groups, each with four cell receptacles 30 . To carry out the testing, of course, the individual cell receptacles are sealed gas-tight in order to be able to ensure operation with supply gases ZG and discharge gases AG in a safe manner for each cell receptacle 30 . FIG. 1 already shows the compactness of such a test station, which allows a large number of individual fuel cells 100 (in the figure, for example, in two cells) to be used in a smaller volume than previous test stations.

len recordings 30) each specifically in the individual cell recordings 30 to check.

FIG. 2 shows a variant of FIG. 1 with a schematic view. In contrast to the slot-like cell receptacles 30 in FIG. 1, the cell receptacles 30 here are adapted to a cylindrical configuration of the fuel cells 100. In a particularly simple manner, the heating device 40 is designed here with an upper heater and a lower heater, which is able to heat all of the cell receptacles 30 together inside the housing 20 . This also allows the cell receptacles 30 to be heated at the same time, although it is preferable to provide for specific heating of individual cell receptacles 30, which is still possible later.

In addition, FIG. 2 shows a solution in which module interfaces 22 are provided on the side of the housing 20, which are used for docking

at module interfaces 22 of an adjacent housing 20, not shown

to allow further test station 10. This allows a whole system of two

or more test stations 10 are built to an even larger number of

To be able to test fuel cells 100 (not shown in the figure) at the same time.

The heating device 40 can be used to evenly control the temperature of the entire test station 10 or to set a specific starting temperature. Depending on the test protocol, it is therefore not absolutely necessary to set the temperature individually for each cell receptacle 30 in each case.

Furthermore, a central heating device 40 in combination with individual heating means 42 of the individual cell receptacles 30 can, for example, enable faster heating up to a temperature at which the individual temperature specifications

have to be implemented.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of the inner workings of a test station 10. A schematic cross section through a cell receptacle 30 is shown here. A fuel cell 100 is arranged in this cell receptacle 30, which is shown here in cross-hatching in test position PP. The holding device 32 seals the peripheral edges of the fuel cell 100 so that an anode-side gas cavity 33 is formed above the fuel cell 100 and a cathode-side gas cavity 34 is formed below the fuel cell 100 . The definition of a cathode side and an anode side naturally depends on the gases used and the mode of operation used and can change accordingly depending on the operating situation and the fuel cell 100 .

An anode gas supply 35 and two anode gas discharges 36 are provided for the anode-side gas cavity 33 for the operation of the fuel cell 100 with the corresponding supply gases ZG and discharge gases AG. A cathode gas supply 37 and two cathode gas discharges 38 are provided in an identical manner on the opposite gas cavity 34 on the cathode side. It is now possible, via appropriate gas compositions as supply gases ZG, the two sides of the

To apply fuel cell 100 with gases and to put them into operation.

For this operation, ie for the conversion of gases, in particular a fuel on the one hand and an air composition on the other hand, a specific test station 10 according to the invention, for this cell

30 applied temperature curve possible. This is guaranteed

A similar variant, an alternative to FIG. 3, is shown in FIG. The heating means 42 are formed here in the form of a surface and can, for example, represent direct electric heaters. However, planar heat pipes are also fundamentally conceivable as configurations of this embodiment. In addition, according to FIG. These connection means 50 are, of course, not shown in FIG. 4, connected to corresponding further electronic components with electrical cabling for tapping the generated electrical power. In addition, in the embodiment of FIG. 4, a temperature sensor 90 is integrated in each of the upper and lower holding devices 32 . Monitoring the temperature at this location allows for even more accurate control of the heater to maintain a specified temperature curve for the one being tested

fuel cell 100.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic cross section through a housing 20 of a test station 10, showing how the specific heating option can be designed. Here, three cell receptacles 30 are arranged schematically one above the other, with a fuel cell 100 being located in the test position PP in each one, shown schematically. These fuel cells 100 are held in the holding device 32 and a number of specific heating means 42 are provided above and below these fuel cells 100 in each cell receptacle 30 . With the help of an electrical heating device 44, it is now possible to supply each individual heating means 42 specifically from the common heating device 40 with a quantity of heat, so that each cell receptacle 30 has a specific temperature difference independently of all other cell receptacles.

run can run through as a test log. Each fuel cell 100 can thus

fish are subjected to a test protocol, which is carried out at the same time, but

lich the actual expression independently of the other cell recordings

can be carried out.

FIG. 6 shows a variation possibility similar to the temperature variation with regard to flexibility, which has been explained for FIG. However, Figure 6 shows this with respect to the gas composition of the feed gases. The anode gas feed 35 is explained here as the feed gas ZG, but the same solution also applies in a similar manner to an application for the cathode gas feed 37 or for both gas cavities at the same time. Here three gas sources 72a, 72b and 72c are shown schematically on the right outside of the housing 20, which can supply the mixing devices 70 for the middle and the lower cell receptacle 30 with gas. While the uppermost cell receptacle 30 can be supplied exclusively with the first supply gas ZG from the first gas source 72a via the valve device 60, the middle and lower cell receptacle 30 can be supplied with gas mixtures from the gas sources 72a, 72b and/or 72c via the mixing device 70 . This can involve the enrichment of different gases. Different concentrations of fuel, different concentrations of noxious gases or also different concentrations of oxygen can be tested and the fuel cells 100 can be subjected to these different gas compositions as a test, in particular by running similar or different test protocols in parallel. The combination of different mixing possibilities in this FIG. 6 is to be understood purely as an example. It can be advantageous if all cell receptacles 30 are equipped with mixing devices 70, which allow a mixture of all existing gas sources 72a, 72b and 72c. Of course, the number of different gas sources 72a, 72b, 72c is not limited to the number three, as shown in FIG. The gas sources 72a, 7/1b, 72c can be pure gases or

already contain gas mixtures.

FIG. 7 shows an expanded evaluation option. Here, the individual cell receptacles 30 are again connected to a common exhaust gas outlet via valve devices 60 . Alternatively, the exhaust gas of a single cell can be connected via the valve devices 60 (e.g. 3-way valve).

be made 30 to a gas analysis device 80, so that in addition to a

ner monitoring of electrical parameters and / or temperature parameters

gas analysis for the individual cell receptacles 30 is also possible.

The above explanation of the embodiments describes the present one

Invention solely in the context of examples.

Reference List

10 test station

20 housing

22 module interface

30 cell intake

32 holding device

33 anode-side gas cavity 34 cathode-side gas cavity 35 anode gas supply

36 anode gas discharge

37 cathode gas supply

38 cathode gas discharge

40 heater

42 heating means

44 heat source

50 connection means

60 valve device

70 gas mixing device 72a gas source

72b gas source

72c gas source

80 gas analyzer

90 temperature sensor 100 fuel cell PP test position

ZG supply gas AG exhaust gas

Claims (16)

patent claims 1. Testing station (10) for testing at least two fuel cells (100) in parallel, at least in part, with a housing (20) in which at least two cell receptacles (30) are arranged, each for receiving one fuel cell (100), with each cell receptacle (30 ) has a holding device (32) for holding the received fuel cell (100) in a test position (PP), with an anode-side gas cavity (33) and a cathode-side gas cavity in the test position (PP) above and below the fuel cell (100). (34) designed for operating the fuel cell (100) with supply gases (ZG) and discharge gases (AG), characterized in that each cell receptacle (30) has an anode gas supply (35) and an anode gas discharge (36) in fluid communication with the anode-side gas cavity (33) and a cathode gas inlet (37) and a cathode gas outlet (38) in fluid communication with the cathode-side gas cavity (34), wherein at least one heating device (40) for active heating of the cell receptacles (30) is also arranged in the housing (20). is. 2. Test station (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that in the housing (20), in particular on each cell receptacle (30), connection means (50) for an electrical connection of the fuel cell (100) in the test position (PP) are arranged. 3. Test station (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heating device (40) has at least one heating means (42) in at least one cell receptacle (30) for specific and direct heating of a cell receptacle (30) in the test position (PP) accommodated fuel cell (100), wherein the heating device (40) has in particular heating means (42) in each cell receptacle (30) for a specific and direct heating of in the cell receptacles (30) in the test position (PP) recorded fuel cells (100) 4. Test station (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that the at least one heating means (42) is designed to be exchangeable and/or expandable is. 6. test station (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heating device (40) has at least one electrical heat source (44), in particular a specific electrical heat measurement source (44) for each heating means (42) of the heating device (40). 7. test station (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cell receptacles (30) thermally against each other and/or isolated from the environment. 8. Test station (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the anode gas supply (35), the anode gas discharge (36), the cathode gas supply (37) and/or the cathode gas discharge (38) has a valve have a device (60) for controlling the respective gas flow. 9. test station (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding device (32) of each cell receptacle (30) is adapted to a geometry of the fuel cell (100) to be accommodated. 10. test station (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the housing (20) at least one gas mixing device (70) is arranged for generating a gas mixture for supply via the Anode gas supply (35) and/or the cathode gas supply (37). 11. Test station (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cell receptacle (30) and / or the heating device (40) has one or more temperature sensors (90). 12. Testing station (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holding device (32) has at least partially a thermal bridge made of heat-conducting material to the heating device (40), in particular to at least one heating means (42). 14. Test station (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing (20) is of modular design, in particular module interfaces (22) for mechanical, fluid-communicating and/or signal-communicating connection to a housing (20) of at least one further test station ( 10) has. 15. Test method for at least partially parallel testing of at least two fuel cells (100), in particular in a test station (10) with the features of one of claims 1 to 14, characterized by the following steps: - Insertion of one fuel cell (100) each into one cell receptacle (30) of the test station (10), - heating the fuel cells (100) using the heating device (40), - Operation of the fuel cells by means of supply gases (ZG) and exhaust gases (AG). 16. Test method according to claim 15, characterized in that for at least one cell receptacle (30), in particular for all cell receptacles (30), a specific temperature control is carried out.