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Inspection systems for the hydrogen fuel cell stack vehicles
A fuel cell vehicle is an electric vehicle that utilizes a fuel cell stack as a source of generating electricity. However, a fuel cell generates electricity through the assistance of gases used as alternative fuels, such as oxygen and hydrogen. Transferring the hydrogen from the tanks into the fuel cell stack leads to electricity production. A fuel cell stack represents the assembly of an individual membrane of electrodes that utilizes hydrogen and oxygen to create electricity. Moreover, hydrogen cell fuels are sustainable and environmentally friendly. Thus, hydrogen-based fuel cell vehicles (FCV) emit zero emissions, as they dissipate oxygen (vapours) and warm air. A fuel cell stack inspection system is required to ensure the quality and functionality of the fuel cell stacks. This is necessary not only to guarantee the cell stack performance, but also for your customers’ safety.
The fuel cell stack inspection is mandatory for identifying issues in the assembly of the top or bottom layers of the fuel cells stack. In the assembly line it is possible to encounter a variety of defects such as: lumps, scratches, cuts, blemishes, and spots. Disregarding these defects confines the fuel cell from performing to its maximum capacity. Overall, these issues will affect the fuel cell stacks' production, safety, and reliability, if they are not detected through the assistance of calibrated instruments.
The renowned Japanese automotive company Toyota launched the Mirai, a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, in 2021. A collaboration between Toyota and Konica Minolta Sensing emerged, to optimize the fuel cell technology production and development used in Mirai. As a result, it led to to the implementation of the ProMetric® Y Imaging Photometer as their Fuel Cell Inspection System. To learn more about how the expertise of Konica Minolta Sensing ensured a successful implementation of the ProMetric® Y system in the Toyota Mirai project, download the case study below: