Method and apparatus for detecting and locating perforations in membranes employed in electrochemical cells

Abstract From the Canadian patent

A method and apparatus detects and locates perforations in membranes used in electrochemical cells. The membrane has first and second oppositely facing major planar surfaces. The first surface is exposed to a first reactant fluid preferably a gaseous mixture comprising hydrogen while the second surface is , exposed to a second reactant fluid preferably ambient air comprising oxygen. The first and second reactant fluids are substantially fluidly isolated from each other by the membrane when no perforations are present in the membrane. The first reactant fluid contacts the second reactant fluid when at least one perforation is present in the membrane. The first and second reactant …