Patent ID: 7855020
Filing Date: 2010-12-21
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A method of shutting down a fuel cell power plant ( 10 ), the power plant comprising at least one fuel cell ( 12 ) for generating electrical current from hydrogen containing reducing fluid fuel and oxygen containing oxidant reactant streams, the fuel cell ( 12 ) including an anode catalyst ( 14 ) and a cathode catalyst ( 16 ) on opposed sides of an electrolyte ( 18 ), an anode flow path ( 24 ) in fluid communication with the anode catalyst ( 14 ) for directing the hydrogen fuel to flow through the fuel cell ( 12 ) and adjacent the anode catalyst ( 14 ), and a cathode flow path ( 38 ) in fluid communication with the cathode catalyst ( 16 ) for directing the oxidant stream to flow through the fuel cell ( 12 ) and adjacent the cathode catalyst ( 14 ), the method of shutting down the fuel cell power plant ( 10 ) comprising the steps of: a. disconnecting a primary load ( b. terminating flow of the oxidant into the cathode flow path ( c. connecting an auxiliary load ( d. then, permitting transfer of the hydrogen fuel from the anode flow path ( e. sensing, while the fuel cell power plant ( f. terminating flow of the hydrogen fuel into the anode flow path ( g. permitting release into the anode flow path (