New Method for Measurement Inside Fuel Cells

A common type of fuel cell is the polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEFC), but to achieve stable electric current generation, issues include devising a structure that doesn't obstruct gas flow and removing the water that is generated by the chemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen. To resolve those issues, problems must be detected by making measurements inside the cell. Mechanical engineers led by Kuniyasu Ogawa at Japan's Keio University are developing new technology for measurement inside fuel cells. "A fuel cell is made of metal, and it's hard to measure inside metal objects using MRI. So, what we do in our lab is, we use very small coils, and obtain signals by inserting those coils into the fuel cell," says Ogawa. Their technique is based on the nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) method, and places lots of small planar coils, covered with an insulating film, inside a fuel cell. This has made it possible to measure conditions inside the cell in detail, quickly, at multiple points.

Transcript

00:00:04 at ko university the ogawa laboratory in the department of mechanical engineering faculty of science and technology is working to establish technology for measurement inside fuel cells the aim is to ensure stable electric current generation in fuel cells which have recently undergone rapid advances in development like

00:01:41 one common type of fuel cell is the pefc to achieve stable electric current generation the issues are devising a structure that doesn't obstruct gas flow and removing the water that's generated by the chemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen to resolve those issues problems must be detected by making measurements inside the cell

00:02:06 currently methods for measuring inside a sealed object include x-rays neutron beams and mri but all those methods require a large space because they use bulky equipment also because the fuel cell must be placed inside a magnet the size of the cell is limited so the ogawa lab uses a technique based on the nmr method

00:02:31 and places lots of small planar coils covered with an insulating film inside a fuel cell this has made it possible to measure conditions inside the cell in detail quickly at multiple points from now on professor ogawa will improve and develop this technology so it can be utilized in a wide range of other fields yes

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