Vacuum technology for plasma activation of surfaces and sputter coating can drastically improve the performance of metallic bipolar plates with respect to corrosion resistance and reduction of contact resistance. Tightness control can be tailored to the needs of individual requirements with respect to detection limit and speed with tracer gas leak detection, µflow leak testing or a combination of both.

After assembly of a fuel cell stack, leak detection is vital for further production flow. The integrity of the stack with respect to mechanical damage of individual cells and homogeneous force distribution of clamping devices can be checked with integral Micro-Flow test methods or localizing tracer gas tests.

During storage of hydrogen gas, release must be reduced to a level which never exceeds a potentially hazardous concentration of hydrogen in air. Tank materials and the seals used in fuel cells must be characterized and leak tested. Did you know that the length of all seals in a 120 kW fuel cell stack can be as long as 1 km?

In mobility applications, Hydrogen escape must be reduced to a minimum. Many components in the hydrogen circuit like injection valves or recirculation blowers are leak tested. This applies also for many other components on the air/oxygen circuit and cooling for fuel cell and power electronics.