Bipolar plate helium leak detection test device and test method

Abstract

The invention relates to a bipolar plate helium leak detection test device, comprising: an upper bottom plate half-cavity component is arranged above the bipolar plate helium leak detection test device; a vacuum buffer cavity is formed between the upper bottom plate half-cavity component and the upper bottom plate half-cavity component through a sealing structure above the upper bottom plate half-cavity component; a quick-change tool is arranged in the vacuum buffer cavity; the vacuum buffer cavity and the quick-change tool are connected; a bipolar plate is fixed above the quick-change tool by a positioning device; the bipolar plate is attached to the quick-change tool and sealed with the quick-change tool, and a leak detection test is performed through a connecting port arranged below the bottom plate half-cavity component; a vacuum buffer cavity structure is adopted to form a vacuum buffer cavity, the bipolar plate is sealed in the vacuum buffer cavity by relying on the sealing structure, the bipolar plate is installed by using the quick-change tool, and the bipolar plate test is sealed, thereby solving the technical problems of the existing test method, such as long test time, low test accuracy, large amount of energy waste, and large power consumption during vacuuming.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments of the present invention relate to a leak detection test device and a test method thereof, and in particular to a bipolar plate helium leak detection test device and a test method thereof. Background Art

[0002] Bipolar plates are the main components of fuel cells. In hydrogen energy power systems, the electricity of fuel cells is obtained through the chemical reaction of hydrogen and oxygen. Hydrogen, as a fuel, is a colorless, odorless, flammable and explosive small molecule gas that is very prone to leakage, which requires each bipolar plate to have good air tightness. At present, the main leakage test method for bipolar plates is the air method, but it is limited by the low test accuracy of air leak detection and its slow test cycle, which has been increasingly unable to meet the increasingly high test standards and cycles.

[0003] However, due to the complex structure of the bipolar plate and the lack of a sealed cavity, external tooling must be used to form a cavity for leak testing. In order to obtain higher test accuracy, the sealing tooling itself must have good sealing properties. Therefore, the sealing tooling of the bipolar plate has become a key point and difficulty during helium leak testing.

[0004] The principle of the helium leak test of the bipolar plate is generally a vacuum box leak test. However, given the large size of the bipolar plate, the existing test tooling will have a vacuum box that is about 10-20 times larger than the bipolar plate's own cavity. Since the vacuum box needs to be evacuated during the test, the existing test method not only has a long test time and low test accuracy, but also wastes a lot of energy. The power consumption when evacuating the vacuum box in the existing technology is relatively large. Summary of the invention

[0005] The purpose of the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a bipolar plate helium leak detection test device with low power consumption, so as to solve the technical problem of high power consumption when evacuating a vacuum box in the prior art.

[0006] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the embodiment of the present invention designs a bipolar plate helium leak detection test device, which is characterized by comprising:

[0007] Upper bottom plate half-cavity component; the upper bottom plate half-cavity component is arranged above the bipolar plate helium leak detection test device;

[0008] A bottom plate half-cavity component is located above the upper bottom plate half-cavity component and forms a vacuum buffer cavity with the upper bottom plate half-cavity component through a sealing structure;

[0009] A quick-change fixture is provided in the vacuum buffer chamber; the vacuum buffer chamber is connected to the quick-change fixture; a bipolar plate is fixed above the quick-change fixture by a positioning device; the bipolar plate is attached to the quick-change fixture and sealed with the quick-change fixture, and a leak test is performed through a connecting port provided below the bottom plate half-chamber component.

[0010] Furthermore, the upper bottom plate half cavity component further includes:

[0011] An upper bottom plate is arranged on the upper part of the upper bottom plate half cavity component, and a first cavity is opened below the upper bottom plate;

[0012] A top quick-change tool is fixed in the first cavity, and an upper cavity of the vacuum buffer cavity is formed between the first cavity and the top quick-change tool.

[0013] Furthermore, the bottom plate half-cavity component further includes:

[0014] A lower bottom plate is arranged at the lower part of the bottom plate half cavity component; a second cavity is formed on the lower bottom plate;

[0015] A bottom quick-change tooling is fixed in the second cavity; the first sealing ring is embedded in the gap between the bottom quick-change tooling and the lower bottom plate;

[0016] A vacuum hole is provided on the bottom of the lower bottom plate; the vacuum hole extends into a second cavity provided between the lower bottom plate and the bottom quick-change tooling.

[0017] Furthermore, a third cavity is provided above the bottom quick-change fixture along the outer contour of the bipolar plate, the bipolar plate is embedded in the third cavity, and a second sealing ring is embedded between the bipolar plate and the third cavity.

[0018] Furthermore, the vacuum hole is connected to the vacuum pumping and helium flushing ports of the electrode plates arranged on the lower bottom plate through the vacuum buffer cavity.

[0019] Furthermore, the plate vacuum and helium flushing port extends from bottom to top to the surface of the top quick-change tooling; the plate vacuum and helium flushing port is directly opposite to the position on the bipolar plate that needs to be tested.

[0020] Furthermore, a plate positioning block is arranged around the bipolar plate above the top quick-change tooling; the plate positioning block is used to limit the position of the bipolar plate on the top quick-change tooling.

[0021] Furthermore, a connector is fixed above the bipolar plate helium leak detection test device for connecting to a servo press.

[0022] The present invention also provides a method for testing a bipolar plate helium leak detection test device, comprising the following steps:

[0023] Step S10: Preparation before the test: connect the bipolar plate helium leak test device to the servo press through a connector, and preset a pressure value; connect the plate vacuum pumping and helium flushing ports on the bipolar plate helium leak test device to the hydrogen test instrument, the water test instrument, and the oxygen test instrument respectively; proceed to step 20;

[0024] Step 20: Start the machine; respectively start the servo press, hydrogen test instrument, water test instrument, and oxygen test instrument in step S10, and set the test parameters. After the parameters are set, proceed to step S30;

[0025] Step S30: First sealing: First, a bipolar plate is placed on the bottom quick-change fixture, and the servo press drives the top quick-change fixture to descend and first contacts the first sealing ring installed on the lower bottom plate. Under the pressing force of the servo press, the first sealing ring is elastically deformed, so that the first cavity and the second cavity form a vacuum buffer cavity, forming a closed vacuum cavity; proceed to step S40;

[0026] Step S40: Second sealing: As the pressing force of the servo press continues to increase, the top quick-change tool moves downward and contacts the second sealing ring, and under the pressure of the servo press, the sealing rings arranged on both sides of the bipolar plate will be elastically deformed, and the bottom quick-change tool, the bipolar plate and the top quick-change tool will form a simulated test cavity for testing hydrogen, testing water and testing oxygen under the pressure of the servo press; enter step S50;

[0027] Step S50: Leakage test: The hydrogen test instrument, water test instrument, and oxygen test instrument are respectively vacuumed and flushed through the plate to vacuum the simulated test cavities of the test hydrogen, test water, and test oxygen in step S40. After the vacuum reaches a preset value, helium is filled in to perform a leakage test on the simulated test cavities of the test hydrogen, test water, and test oxygen, and the data is recorded and uploaded, and then step S60 is entered;

[0028] Step S60, cycle test: the servo press moves upward, stops, and takes out the bipolar plate; after the test is completed, enter step S30.

[0029] Furthermore, in the test method of the bipolar plate helium leak test device, the vacuum degrees of the simulated test cavities of the test hydrogen, test water, and test oxygen are not equal.

[0030] Compared with the prior art, the embodiments of the present invention adopt a vacuum buffer chamber structure to form a vacuum buffer chamber. At the same time, the bipolar plate is sealed in the vacuum buffer chamber by relying on the sealing structure, and the bipolar plate is installed by using a quick-change tooling to form a test structure of the vacuum buffer chamber structure, so that the bipolar plate can be tested while being flexibly loaded and unloaded, thereby realizing the sealing of the bipolar plate test with the vacuum buffer chamber structure, solving the technical problems that the existing testing method not only has a long testing time and low testing accuracy, but also wastes a lot of energy, and the power consumption is large when the vacuum box in the prior art is evacuated. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the side structure of the first embodiment of the present invention;

[0032] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of an upper bottom plate half cavity component of a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0033] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of a bottom plate half-cavity component according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0034] Figure 4 FIG. 1 is a flow chart of the second embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] In order to make the purpose, technical scheme and advantages of the present invention clearer, the following will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that in the various embodiments of the present invention, many technical details are provided in order to enable the reader to better understand the present application. However, even without these technical details and various changes and modifications based on the following embodiments, the technical scheme claimed for protection in the claims of the present application can be implemented.

[0036] In a first embodiment of the present invention, a bipolar plate helium leak test device is provided. Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 As shown, including:

[0037] In this embodiment, an upper bottom plate half-chamber component 10 is arranged above the bipolar plate helium leak test device.

[0038] Above the upper bottom plate half-cavity component 10, a vacuum buffer cavity is formed between the sealing structure and the upper bottom plate half-cavity component 10; the vacuum buffer cavity has a sealing function, which is equivalent to the function of the box body of the vacuum box in the prior art.

[0039] Above the upper bottom plate half-chamber component 10, a vacuum buffer chamber is formed between the sealing structure and the upper bottom plate half-chamber component 20;

[0040] A quick-change fixture 30 is arranged in the vacuum buffer chamber; the vacuum buffer chamber is connected to the quick-change fixture 30; a channel is provided for extracting vacuum, and a bipolar plate 40 is fixed above the quick-change fixture 30 by a positioning device; the bipolar plate 40 is attached to the quick-change fixture 30 and sealed with the quick-change fixture 30, and a leak test is performed through a connecting port arranged below the bottom plate half-chamber component 20.

[0041] In the above-mentioned embodiment, the bipolar plate is sealed in the vacuum buffer cavity by using a vacuum buffer cavity, and the bipolar plate 40 is installed by using a quick-change fixture 30 to form a test structure of the vacuum buffer cavity structure, wherein the quick-change fixture 30 includes a top quick-change fixture 7 and a bottom quick-change fixture; thereby, the bipolar plate 40 can be tested while being flexibly loaded and unloaded, thereby realizing the sealing of the bipolar plate 40 by using a vacuum buffer cavity structure, solving the technical problems that the existing testing method not only has a long testing time and low testing accuracy, but also wastes a lot of energy, and the power consumption when evacuating the vacuum box in the prior art is large.

[0042] To further illustrate the first embodiment, Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 As shown, the upper bottom plate half cavity component 10 also includes:

[0043] An upper bottom plate 6 is arranged on the upper part of the upper bottom plate half cavity component 10, and a first cavity 61 is opened below the upper bottom plate 6;

[0044] The top quick-change fixture 7 is fixed in the first cavity 61, and the upper cavity of the vacuum buffer cavity is formed between the first cavity 61 and the top quick-change fixture 7. Such a structure forms the upper cavity structure of the vacuum buffer cavity.

[0045] The same principle applies. Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 As shown, the bottom plate half-cavity component 20 also includes:

[0046] A lower bottom plate 1 is provided at the lower part of the bottom plate half cavity component 20; a second cavity 11 is opened on the lower bottom plate 1;

[0047] The bottom quick-change fixture 2 is fixed in the second cavity 21; the first sealing ring 5 is embedded in the gap between the bottom quick-change fixture 2 and the lower bottom plate 1;

[0048] A vacuum hole 8 is provided on the bottom of the lower base plate 1; the vacuum hole 8 extends to the second cavity 11 provided between the lower base plate 1 and the bottom quick-change fixture 2. The two cavity components of the bottom plate half cavity component 20 and the upper bottom plate half cavity component 10 can form a vacuum buffer cavity structure when the bottom plate half cavity component 20 and the upper bottom plate half cavity component 10 are combined together.

[0049] To further illustrate the first embodiment, Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 As shown, above the bottom quick-change fixture 2, a third cavity 21 is provided along the outer contour of the bipolar plate 40, the bipolar plate 40 is embedded in the third cavity 21, and a second sealing ring 3 is embedded between the bipolar plate 40 and the third cavity 21. The second sealing ring 3 is used for sealing when the bottom plate half-cavity component 20 and the upper bottom plate half-cavity component 10 are combined together.

[0050] To further illustrate the first embodiment, Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 As shown, the vacuum hole 8 is connected to the electrode plate vacuum and helium flushing port 9 arranged on the lower bottom plate 1 through the vacuum buffer cavity; thus, a connecting structure is formed between the vacuum hole 8 and the electrode plate vacuum and helium flushing port 9, ensuring that the vacuum hole 8 can completely remove the air in the vacuum buffer cavity structure.

[0051] To further illustrate the first embodiment, Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 As shown, the plate vacuum and helium flushing port 9 extends from bottom to top to the surface of the top quick-change tooling 7; the plate vacuum and helium flushing port 9 is directly opposite to the position on the bipolar plate 40 that needs to be tested.

[0052] To further illustrate the first embodiment, Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 As shown, plate positioning blocks 4 are arranged around the bipolar plate 40 above the top quick-change fixture 7 ; the plate positioning blocks 4 are used to limit the position of the bipolar plate 40 on the top quick-change fixture 7 .

[0053] To further illustrate the first embodiment, Figure 1 , Figure 2 , Figure 3 As shown, a connector 13 is fixed above the bipolar plate helium leak test device for connecting to a servo press.

[0054] In a second embodiment of the present invention, a testing method for a bipolar plate helium leak detection testing device is also provided. Figure 4 As shown, the following steps are included:

[0055] Step S10: Preparation before the test: connect the bipolar plate helium leak test device to the servo press through the connector 13, and preset the pressure value; connect the plate vacuum pumping and helium flushing ports 9 on the bipolar plate helium leak test device to the hydrogen test instrument, the water test instrument, and the oxygen test instrument respectively; proceed to step 20;

[0056] Step 20: Start the machine; respectively start the servo press, hydrogen test instrument, water test instrument, and oxygen test instrument in step S10, and set the test parameters. After the parameters are set, proceed to step S30;

[0057] Step S30: First sealing, first, put the bipolar plate 40 on the bottom quick-change fixture 2, the servo press drives the top quick-change fixture 7 to descend, and first contacts the first sealing ring 5 installed on the lower bottom plate 1, under the action of the pressing force of the servo press, the first sealing ring 5 is elastically deformed, so that the first cavity 61 and the second cavity 11 form a vacuum buffer cavity, forming a closed vacuum cavity; enter step S40;

[0058] Step S40: Second sealing: As the pressing force of the servo press continues to increase, the top quick-change fixture 7 moves downward and contacts the second sealing ring 3, and under the pressure of the servo press, the sealing rings 41 arranged on both sides of the bipolar plate 40 will be elastically deformed, and the bottom quick-change fixture 2 and the bipolar plate 40 and the top quick-change fixture 7 will form a simulated test cavity 42 for testing hydrogen, testing water, and testing oxygen under the pressure of the servo press; enter step S50;

[0059] Step S50: Leakage test: The hydrogen test instrument, the water test instrument, and the oxygen test instrument are respectively vacuumed through the plate and the helium flushing port 9 to vacuum the simulated test cavity 42 of the test hydrogen, test water, and test oxygen in step S40, and after the vacuum reaches a preset value, helium is filled in to perform a leakage test on the simulated test cavity 42 of the test hydrogen, test water, and test oxygen, and the data is recorded and uploaded, and then step S60 is entered;

[0060] Step S60, cycle test: the servo press moves upward, stops, and takes out the bipolar plate; after the test is completed, enter step S30.

[0061] The vacuum degrees of the simulated test chamber 42 for testing hydrogen, testing water, and testing oxygen are all different.

[0062] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the above-mentioned embodiments are specific examples for implementing the present invention, and in actual applications, various changes may be made thereto in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A bipolar plate helium leak detection test device, characterized in that: include: Upper bottom plate half cavity component; The upper bottom plate half-cavity component is arranged above the bipolar plate helium leak detection test device; A bottom plate half-cavity component is located above the upper bottom plate half-cavity component and forms a vacuum buffer cavity with the upper bottom plate half-cavity component through a sealing structure; A quick-change fixture is provided in the vacuum buffer chamber; the vacuum buffer chamber is connected to the quick-change fixture; a bipolar plate is fixed above the quick-change fixture by a positioning device; the bipolar plate is attached to the quick-change fixture and sealed with the quick-change fixture, and a leak test is performed through a connecting port provided below the bottom plate half-chamber component; The upper bottom plate half cavity component further includes: An upper bottom plate is arranged on the upper part of the upper bottom plate half cavity component, and a first cavity is opened below the upper bottom plate; A top quick-change tooling is fixed in the first cavity, and an upper cavity of the vacuum buffer cavity is formed between the first cavity and the top quick-change tooling; The bottom plate half-cavity component further includes: A lower bottom plate is arranged at the lower part of the bottom plate half cavity component; a second cavity is formed on the lower bottom plate; A bottom quick-change tooling is fixed in the second cavity; a first sealing ring is embedded in the gap between the bottom quick-change tooling and the lower bottom plate; A vacuum hole is provided on the bottom of the lower bottom plate; the vacuum hole extends into a second cavity provided between the lower bottom plate and the bottom quick-change tooling.

2. The bipolar plate helium leak detection test device according to claim 1, characterized in that: A third cavity is arranged above the bottom quick-change fixture along the outer contour of the bipolar plate, the bipolar plate is embedded in the third cavity, and a second sealing ring is embedded between the bipolar plate and the third cavity.

3. The bipolar plate helium leak detection test device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The vacuuming hole is connected to the vacuuming and helium flushing port of the pole plate arranged on the lower bottom plate through the vacuum buffer cavity.

4. The bipolar plate helium leak detection test device according to claim 3, characterized in that: The plate vacuum pumping and helium flushing port extends from bottom to top to the surface of the top quick-change tooling; the plate vacuum pumping and helium flushing port is directly opposite to the position on the bipolar plate that needs to be tested.

5. The bipolar plate helium leak detection test device according to claim 1, characterized in that: Polar plate positioning blocks are arranged around the bipolar plate above the top quick-change tooling; the polar plate positioning blocks are used to limit the position of the bipolar plate on the top quick-change tooling.

6. The bipolar plate helium leak detection test device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that: A connector is fixed above the bipolar plate helium leak detection test device for connecting to a servo press.

7. A method for testing a bipolar plate helium leak test device, characterized in that: The following steps are involved: Step S10: Preparation before the test: connect the bipolar plate helium leak test device described in any one of claims 1 to 6 to the servo press through a connector, and preset a pressure value; and connect the plate vacuum pumping and helium flushing ports on the bipolar plate helium leak test device to a hydrogen test instrument, a water test instrument, and an oxygen test instrument, respectively; proceed to step S20; Step S20: Start the machine; respectively start the servo press, hydrogen test instrument, water test instrument, and oxygen test instrument in step S10, and set the test parameters. After the parameters are set, proceed to step S30; Step S30: first sealing: first, a bipolar plate is placed on the bottom quick-change fixture, the servo press drives the top quick-change fixture to descend, and first contacts the first sealing ring installed on the lower bottom plate, and under the action of the pressing force of the servo press, the first sealing ring is elastically deformed, so that the first cavity and the second cavity form a vacuum buffer cavity, forming a closed vacuum cavity; Go to step S40; Step S40: Second sealing: As the pressing force of the servo press continues to increase, the top quick-change tool moves downward and contacts the second sealing ring, and under the pressure of the servo press, the sealing rings arranged on both sides of the bipolar plate will be elastically deformed, and the bottom quick-change tool, the bipolar plate and the top quick-change tool will form a simulated test cavity for testing hydrogen, testing water and testing oxygen under the pressure of the servo press; proceed to step S50; Step S50: Leakage test: The hydrogen test instrument, water test instrument, and oxygen test instrument are respectively vacuumed and flushed through the plate to vacuum the simulated test cavities of the test hydrogen, test water, and test oxygen in step S40. After the vacuum reaches a preset value, helium is filled in to perform a leakage test on the simulated test cavities of the test hydrogen, test water, and test oxygen, and the data is recorded and uploaded, and then step S60 is entered; Step S60, cycle test: the servo press moves upward, stops, and then takes out the bipolar plate; After the test is completed, go to step S30.

8. The testing method of the bipolar plate helium leak detection testing device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The vacuum degrees of the simulated test cavities of the test hydrogen, test water and test oxygen are not equal.

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