Optical measurement method and apparatus for fuel cell components
View Patent ↗Methods and systems for measuring a property of a component of a fuel cell system include performing a three-dimensional optical scan of at least a portion of a surface of the component to produce a three-dimensional representation of the topography of the at least a portion of the surface and measuring at least one property of the component based on the three-dimensional representation. Further embodiments include systems and methods for measuring dimensions of a fuel cell component using a line scan imaging device and/or a matrix camera.
1. A method for measuring a property of an interconnect for a fuel cell stack, the interconnect comprising a plurality of ribs and a plurality of channels between the ribs on a first surface of the interconnect, the method comprising:
performing a first three-dimensional optical scan of at least a portion of the first surface of the interconnect to produce a first three-dimensional representation of the topography of the at least a portion of the first surface, wherein performing the first three-dimensional optical scan comprises detecting optical radiation reflected from the first surface of the interconnect;
performing a second three-dimensional optical scan of at least a portion of a second surface of the interconnect opposite the first surface to produce a second three-dimensional representation of the topography of the at least a portion of the second surface, wherein performing the second three-dimensional optical scan comprises detecting optical radiation reflected from the second surface of the interconnect;
measuring at least one of the thickness and curvature of the interconnect based on the first and second three-dimensional representations;
generating a virtual flattened representation of the interconnect based on at least one of a measured thickness and a measured curvature of the interconnect, the virtual flattened representation being configured to correct for variations due to at least one of the thickness and the curvature of the interconnect; and
measuring topography of the interconnect based on the virtual flattened representation.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining flow volume values of the plurality of channels by measuring a series of cross sectional areas of each channel of the plurality of channels on the first surface of the interconnect.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the optical scan comprises an optical triangulation scan.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the optical triangulation scan comprises a laser triangulation scan.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting a defect in the interconnect based on the virtual flattened representation, wherein the defect comprises one or more of a lateral crack, a missing rib, a hole and a void area.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the interconnect comprises a coating over the surface of the component, and the defect comprises a coating defect.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the coating comprises at least one of a lanthanum strontium manganite (LSM) perovskite and a manganese cobalt oxide (MCO) spinel coating.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the virtual flattened representation is configured to correct for variation in both the thickness and the curvature of the interconnect.
9. A method for measuring a property of a component of a fuel cell system, comprising:
performing a first three-dimensional optical scan of at least a portion of a first surface of the component to produce a first three-dimensional representation of the topography of the at least a portion of the first surface, wherein performing the first three-dimensional optical scan comprises detecting optical radiation reflected from a plurality of positions on the first surface of the component;
performing a second three-dimensional optical scan of at least a portion of a second surface of the component opposite the first surface to produce a second three-dimensional representation of the topography of the at least a portion of the second surface, wherein performing the second three-dimensional optical scan comprises detecting optical radiation reflected from a plurality of positions on the second surface of the component;
measuring at least one of the thickness and curvature of the component based on the first and second three-dimensional representations;
generating a virtual flattened representation of the component based on at least one of a measured thickness and a measured curvature of the component, the virtual flattened representation being configured to correct for variations due to at least one of the thickness and the curvature of the component; and
measuring topography of the component based on the virtual flattened representation.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the virtual flattened representation is configured to correct for variations in both the thickness and the curvature of the component.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein measuring the topography comprises identifying localized high and low spots.
12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the component comprises an interconnect for a fuel cell stack.
13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the component comprises a fuel cell electrolyte.
14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first and second three-dimensional optical scans are preformed simultaneously.