Leak Test Air
AIR TEST BENCH FOR SOLID OXIDE FUEL CELLS COMPONENTS
Leak testing is an essential operation in the SOFC cell production process, since it verifies that no leakage is associated to the electrochemical system, either internal to the system itself or towards the outside, simulating real operating condition.
Before the complete assembly of the SOFC cell, a crucial step is to verify the tightness of the electrolyte, which needs to be a dense and uniform layer. Indeed, its role is to transfer oxide ions from the cathode to the anode while no crossing of gas has to occur between the hydrogen and air channels.
If this layer resulted to be too permeable, then a decay in the performance of the cell would be expected.
Accordingly, the tightness of the SOFC cell is of paramount importance to ensure the efficiency and the long-term reliability of the fuel cell system.
