APPARATUS FOR TESTING AIRTIGHTNESS OF SEPARATOR FOR FUEL CELL

Abstract

An apparatus for testing the airtightness of a separator for a fuel cell includes: a jig unit being in close contact with a surface of the separator on which an airtightness line is formed, and having a test flow field formed thereon, the test flow field being opened to a location contacting the airtightness line of the separator; and a test solution supply means for supplying a test solution to a contact location at which the airtightness line of the separator and the jig unit contact to each other through the test flow field of the jig unit, such that a leakage of the test solution at the contact location is tested.

Claims

1. An apparatus for testing airtightness of a separator for a fuel cell, the apparatus comprising: a jig unit being in close contact with a surface of the separator on which an airtightness line is formed, and having a test flow field formed thereon, the test flow field being opened to a location contacting the airtightness line of the separator; and a test solution supply means for supplying a test solution to a contact location at which the airtightness line of the separator and the jig unit contact to each other through the test flow field of the jig unit, such that a leakage of the test solution at the contact location is tested.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the jig unit comprises: a lower jig having the test flow field formed thereon, wherein the separator is seated on an upper surface of the lower jig; and an upper jig disposed on and configured to press the separator to form a close contact between the separator and the lower jig.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the test flow field is split by a predetermined length along the airtightness line of the separator into a plurality of test flow field sections, and the test solution independently flows to each test flow field section of the plurality of test flow field sections by the test solution supply means.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the test flow field of the lower jig is filled with the test solution having a predetermined volume, and wherein the test solution supply means presses the test solution in an opening direction of the test flow field.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the jig unit comprises: a lower jig having an upper surface on which the separator is seated; and an upper jig disposed on and configured to press the separator so as to form a close contact between the separator and the lower jig, wherein the test flow field is formed on a lower surface of the upper jig, and the test flow field is opened to the contact location.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the test solution supply means comprises: a cylinder configured to fluidly communicate with the test flow field and filled with the test solution having a predetermined volume; and a piston provided inside the cylinder and configured to: reciprocate and press the test solution in an opening direction of the test flow field by a forward motion, and recover the test solution into the cylinder by a backward motion.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the jig unit is made of a transparent material, and wherein the test solution is a color liquid.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a chamber for providing a test space; a press lower plate disposed on a bottom surface of the chamber, wherein a first surface of the jig unit is seated on the press lower plate; a press upper plate disposed on the jig unit, and configured to press a second surface of the jig unit; and a press movable shaft coupled to an upper portion of the press upper plate and configured to press and move the press upper plate toward the press lower plate, wherein the press lower plate, the jig unit and the press upper plate are arranged in the test space.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0034] In order that the disclosure may be well understood, there will now be described various forms thereof, given by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0035] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a general fuel cell stack;

[0036] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an airtightness line formed on a separator configuring a general unit cell;

[0037] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an apparatus for testing the airtightness of a separator for the fuel cell according to an exemplary form of the present disclosure;

[0038] FIG. 4 is a perspective diagram illustrating main parts of the apparatus for testing the airtightness of the separator for the fuel cell according to the exemplary form of the present disclosure;

[0039] FIG. 5 is a perspective diagram illustrating main parts of a lower jig in one form of the present disclosure;

[0040] FIGS. 6 to 8 are diagrams illustrating a use state of the apparatus for testing the airtightness of the separator for the fuel cell according to an exemplary form of the present disclosure;

[0041] FIGS. 9 and 10 are diagrams illustrating a use state of an apparatus for testing the airtightness of a separator for the fuel cell according to another form of the present disclosure;

[0042] FIG. 11 is a perspective diagram illustrating main parts of an apparatus for testing the airtightness of a separator for the fuel cell according to another exemplary form of the present disclosure;

[0043] FIG. 12 is a perspective diagram illustrating main parts of an upper jig according to another exemplary form of the present disclosure; and

[0044] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a use state of the apparatus for testing the airtightness of the separator for the fuel cell according to another exemplary form of the present disclosure.

[0045] The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0046] The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.

[0047] Hereinafter, exemplary forms of the present disclosure will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the exemplary forms disclosed below but will be implemented in various different forms, and the present exemplary forms are provided to complete the disclosure of the present disclosure and to completely inform those skilled in the art of the scope of the present disclosure.

[0048] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an apparatus for testing the airtightness of a separator for the fuel cell according to an exemplary form of the present disclosure, FIG. 4 is a perspective diagram illustrating main parts of the apparatus for testing the airtightness of the separator for the fuel cell according to the exemplary form of the present disclosure, and FIG. 5 is a perspective diagram illustrating main parts of a lower jig according to the exemplary form of the present disclosure. At this time, FIG. 5 is a perspective diagram enlarging main parts of an area B illustrated in FIG. 4.

[0049] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the apparatus for testing the airtightness of a separator for the fuel cell is an apparatus for testing an airtightness line formed on a separator 30 configuring a unit cell of the fuel cell by a gasket 40, and includes jig unit 300, 400 which are in close contact with a surface on which the airtightness line 40 of the separator 30 is formed, and have a test flow field 310, which is opened to a location contacting the airtightness line 40 of the separator 30, formed thereon; and a test solution supply means 700 for supplying a test solution to the locations at which the airtightness line 40 of the separator 30 and the jig unit 300, 400 contact each other through the test flow field of the jig unit 300, 400.

[0050] Therefore, the apparatus tests whether the test solution I is leaked at the contacting portion between the airtightness line 40 of the separator 30 and the jig unit 300, 400.

[0051] The jig unit 300, 400 are units which are in close contact with the gasket 40 (hereinafter, referred to as ‘airtightness line’) formed on the separator, and supplies the test solution I to the location contacting the airtightness line 40 through the test flow field 310, and provided to test a state of the airtightness line 40 formed on the lower surface of the separator 30.

[0052] In one form, the jig unit 300, 400 includes a lower jig 300 having the separator 30 seated on the upper surface thereof, the separator 30 having the airtightness line 40 formed; and an upper jig 400 disposed on the lower jig 300 and pressing the separator 30 to bring the separator 30 into close contact with the lower jig 300.

[0053] At this time, the lower jig 300 is formed with the test flow field 310 opened to the location contacting the airtightness line 40 of the separator 30.

[0054] The present exemplary form forms the test flow field 310 opened to the location contacting the internal airtightness line 42 in order to test the internal airtightness line 40 among the airtightness lines 40 of the separator 30. However, the location at which the test flow field 310 is formed is not limited thereto, and the test flow field 310 opened to the location contacting the entire airtightness line 40 of the separator 30 may be formed or the test flow field 310 opened to the location contacting the external airtightness line 41 of the airtightness line 40 may be formed.

[0055] Meanwhile, the test flow field 310 formed on the lower jig 300 is opened to the upper surface of the lower jig 300 in order to test the airtightness line 40 formed on the lower surface of the separator 30.

[0056] In one form, the lower jig 300 is made of a transparent material to identify the test solution I filled in the test flow field 310. For example, the lower jig 300 may be made of a transparent material such as acrylic or tempered glass.

[0057] In another form, the test solution I is made of a color solution to be easily and visually identified. For example, the test solution I may be implemented by a color ink.

[0058] The test solution supply means 700 is a means for supplying the test solution to a location at which the airtightness line 40 of the separator 30 and the jig unit 300, 400 contact each other through the test flow field 310 of the jig unit 300, 400.

[0059] In the present exemplary form, the test solution having a predetermined volume is filled in the test flow field 310. Therefore, the test solution I is in a state of being filled in the lower area of the test flow field 310 by gravity. Therefore, the test solution supply means 700 is implemented by a means for pressing and moving the test solution I filled in the lower area of the test flow field 310 in an opening direction of the upper area thereof.

[0060] For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5, the lower jig 300 is formed with a connection flow field 320 for supplying an inert gas to the test flow field 310. In addition, a pump is provided as the test solution supply means 700 and connected to the connection flow field 320. Therefore, the compressed inert gas is provided to the test flow field 310 through the connection flow field 320 by an operation of the pump, and the thus provided inert gas pushes the test solution I filled in the test flow field 310 to the opening of the test flow field 310.

[0061] At this time, the connection flow field 320 is formed at a location higher than the level of the test solution I filled in the test flow field 310 such that the test solution I filled in the test flow field 310 is not discharged to the outside through the connection flow field 320. In addition, the connection flow field 321 may extend into the lower jig 300 and be connected to the test flow field 310.

[0062] Meanwhile, the apparatus for testing the airtightness of the separator for the fuel cell according to the exemplary form of the present disclosure further includes a chamber 100 for providing a test space therein for an operation of the aforementioned jig unit 300, 400; a press lower plate 200 disposed on the bottom surface of the chamber 100 and having one surface of the jig unit (i.e., the lower jig 300) seated thereon; a press upper plate 500 disposed on the jig unit 300, 400 inside the chamber 100 to press the other surface of the jig unit 300, 400, that is, the upper jig 400; and a press movable shaft 600 coupled to the upper portion of the press upper plate 500 to press and move the press upper plate 500 toward the press lower plate 200.

[0063] A use state of the apparatus for testing the airtightness of the separator for the fuel cell according to the exemplary form of the present disclosure configured as described above will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0064] FIGS. 6 to 8 are diagrams illustrating use states of the apparatus for testing the airtightness of the separator for the fuel cell according to the exemplary form of the present disclosure.

[0065] For testing the airtightness line 40 formed on the separator 30, first, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the lower jig 300 is placed on the press lower plate 200, and the separator 30 is seated on the upper surface of the lower jig 300. In addition, the upper portion of the lower jig 300 is covered by the upper jig 400.

[0066] In addition, the press movable shaft 600 is moved downward to press the press upper plate 500 toward the press lower plate 200. Therefore, the separator 30 is in close contact with the lower jig 300. Then, the airtightness line 40 formed under the separator 30 is in a state of closing the opening of the test flow field 310 formed on the lower jig 300.

[0067] In this state, as illustrated in FIG. 6, when the inert gas compressed into the test flow field 310 is supplied using the test solution supply means 700, the test solution I flows to the opening of the test flow field 310 by the pressure of the inert gas.

[0068] At this time, if the airtightness line 40 of the separator 30 is in a normal state, the airtightness line 40 is in the state of accurately sealing the opening of the test flow field 310, such that even if a predetermined pressure is provided to the test solution I, the test solution I is not leaked to the outside of the test flow field 310.

[0069] However, as illustrated in FIG. 7, when the airtightness line 40 of the separator 30 is in an abnormal state, the airtightness line 40 does not maintain the state of accurately sealing the opening of the test flow field 310, such that the test solution I is leaked to the outside through the opening of the test flow field 310. When the test solution lo thus leaked to the outside is confirmed, a tester confirms a location at which the test solution lo is leaked to confirm the location of the airtightness line 40 in the abnormal state.

[0070] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a cross section taken along the line A-A illustrated in FIG. 4, and although it has been illustrated that the lower jig 300, the separator 30, and the upper jig 400 are in a state of being spaced apart from each other in order to show the state of each component more clearly, it will be natural that the lower jig 300, the separator 30, and the upper jig 400 are in a state of being in close contact with each other in the state where the test is actually performed.

[0071] Meanwhile, the present disclosure may be implemented by changing the structure of the test flow field 310 formed on the lower jig 300 in order to identify the damaged location of the airtightness line 40 formed on the separator 30 more easily and clearly.

[0072] FIGS. 9 and 10 are diagrams illustrating use states of an apparatus for testing the airtightness of a separator for the fuel cell according to a modified example of the present disclosure.

[0073] As illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, in an apparatus for testing the airtightness of a separator for the fuel cell according to a modified example of the present disclosure, the test flow field 310 formed on the lower jig 300 is provided such that the test flow field is split by a predetermined length along the airtightness line 40 of the separator 30 into a plurality of test flow field sections, and the test solution independently flows to each test flow field section of the plurality of test flow field sections 311.

[0074] In addition, the test solution supply means 700 is provided to supply the test solution I to each test flow field section 311.

[0075] Even at this time, as described in the aforementioned exemplary form, the test flow field section 311 is filled with the test solution I having a predetermined volume, and the test solution supply means 700 may be implemented by the pump for supplying the pressed inert gas to each test flow field section 311.

[0076] Therefore, when the inert gas compressed into each test flow field 310 is provided using the test solution supply means 700, the test solution I flows to the opening of the test flow field 310 by the pressure of the inert gas.

[0077] As illustrated in FIG. 10, when there is a location at which the airtightness line 40 is damaged, the test solution is leaked to a test flow field 311a corresponding to the damaged location, and an empty space C is confirmed in the test flow field 310 by the amount of the leaked test solution. As described above, when the test flow field 310 in which the empty space C is formed is confirmed, it may be confirmed that the airtightness line 40 is damaged at the location where the corresponding test flow field 310 is formed. In addition, it is possible to confirm the location of the leaked test solution I together with the damaged airtightness line, thereby confirming the damaged location of the airtightness line 40 more accurately.

[0078] As in FIG. 8, although it has been illustrated in FIG. 10 that the lower jig 300, the separator 30, and the upper jig 400 are the state of being spaced apart from each other in order to show the state of each component more clearly, it will be natural that the lower jig 300, the separator 30, and the upper jig 400 are the state of being in close contact with each other in the state where the test is actually performed.

[0079] Meanwhile, the present disclosure may implement the jig unit differently from the aforementioned exemplary form for testing the airtightness line 40 formed on the upper surface of the separator 30.

[0080] FIG. 11 is a perspective diagram illustrating main parts of an apparatus for testing the airtightness of a separator for the fuel cell according to another exemplary form of the present disclosure, and FIG. 12 is a perspective diagram illustrating main parts of an upper jig according to another exemplary form of the present disclosure.

[0081] As illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, the apparatus for testing the airtightness of the separator for the fuel cell according to another exemplary form of the present disclosure, the jig unit 300, 400 is composed of the lower jig 300 having the separator seated on the upper surface thereof; and the upper jig 400 disposed on the lower jig 300 and pressing the separator 30 to bring the separator 30 into close contact with the lower jig 300, as described in the aforementioned exemplary form.

[0082] However, the present exemplary form, a test flow field 410 is formed on the upper jig 400.

[0083] For example, the test flow field 410 formed on the upper jig 400 is opened to the lower surface of the upper jig 400 for testing the airtightness line 40 formed on the upper surface of the separator 30.

[0084] In one form, the upper jig 400 is made of a transparent material to identify the test solution I supplied to the test flow field 310.

[0085] Meanwhile, as described in the aforementioned exemplary form, when the test solution I is filled in the test flow field 410 formed on the upper jig 400, the test solution I will be leaked through the test flow field 410 opened to the lower surface of the upper jig 400 by gravity as it is.

[0086] To prevent such a problem, in the present exemplary form, the test solution supply means 700 is implemented by being composed of a cylinder 710 installed to communicate with the test flow field 410 and filled with the test solution I having a predetermined volume; and a piston 720 provided inside the cylinder 710 to reciprocate, pressing the test solution I in the opening direction of the test flow field 410 by a forward motion, and recovering the test solution I into the cylinder 710 by a backward motion.

[0087] Therefore, the test solution I filed inside the cylinder 710 is supplied to the inside of the test flow field 410 upon the test of the airtightness line 40, and when the test is terminated, the test solution I is recovered into the cylinder 710 again.

[0088] A use state of the apparatus for testing the airtightness of the separator for the fuel cell according to another exemplary form of the present disclosure configured as described above will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0089] FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a use state of the apparatus for testing the airtightness of the separator for a fuel cell according to another exemplary form of the present disclosure.

[0090] To test the airtightness line 40 formed on the separator 30, first, the upper jig 400 is in close contact with the upper surface of the separator 30. Then, the airtightness line 40 formed on the separator 30 is in a state of sealing an opening of the test flow field 410 formed on the upper jig 400.

[0091] In this state, as illustrated in FIG. 13, when the test solution I is supplied to the inside of the test flow field 410 using the test solution supply means 700, the test solution I flows to the opening of the test flow field 410 by a predetermined pressure by the gravity and the compression of the piston in the test solution supply means 700.

[0092] If the airtightness line 40 of the separator 30 is in a normal state, the airtightness line 40 is in a state of accurately sealing the opening of the test flow field 410, such that even if the predetermined pressure is provided to the test solution I, the test solution I is not leaked to the outside of the test flow field 410.

[0093] However, when the airtightness line 40 of the separator 30 is in an abnormal state, the airtightness line 40 does not maintain the state of accurately sealing the opening of the test flow field 410, such that the test solution I is leaked to the outside through the opening of the test flow field 410. As described above, when the test solution lo leaked to the outside is confirmed, the tester confirms a location at which the test solution lo is leaked to confirm a location of the airtightness line 40 in the abnormal state.

[0094] Meanwhile, although the exemplary form in which the test flow field is formed on the lower jig in order to test the airtightness line formed on the lower surface of the separator and the exemplary form in which the test flow field is formed on the upper jig in order to test the airtightness line formed on the upper surface of the separator have been separately described in the aforementioned exemplary forms, the test flow field may be formed on both the lower jig and the upper jig in order to simultaneously test the airtightness lines formed on the lower surface and upper surface of the separator.

[0095] While the present disclosure has been described with reference to the accompanying drawings and the aforementioned exemplary forms, the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Therefore, those skilled in the art may variously change and modify the present disclosure without departing from the technical spirit of the present disclosure.