The solid oxide fuel cell manufacturing process used by SOLIDpower, headquartered in Mezzolombardo, Italy, involves applying anode and cathode layers to a central electrolyte layer using a proprietary metallic spray. After heat-treating, a final layer is “screen printed” onto the cell to provide electrical contact between cells.
In operating mode, charged oxygen atoms in the air at the anode travel across the electrolyte to react with hydrogen in the fuel gas, creating water and free electrons. Stacks of these cells generating free electrons as usable power can form a unit to power diverse applications.
A precision balance combined with laboratory software automatically records before-and-after weight values against unique sample IDs.
To ensure optimum performance, in-process fuel cells are weighed before and after application of each layer of metallic spray to quantify the addition of the correct material amount. The company realized that calculations performed and recorded by hand left room for error.
Now a METTLER TOLEDO precision balance combined with LabX® laboratory software automatically records the before-and-after weight values against unique sample IDs. All calculations are performed and results recorded automatically, eliminating manual transcription and ensuring traceability.
