Patent ID: 7862948
Filing Date: 2011-01-04
Classification: H01M,Y02E,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A method of operating a fuel cell system, said method comprising: configuring said system to comprise: introducing fuel into said anode flowpath such that said fuel flows through said stacks in a first direction; introducing oxygen into said cathode flowpath; repeatedly reversing said flow of fuel through said anode flowpath such that said fuel flows through stacks in a second direction from the second fuel cell stack to the first fuel cell stack; sensing a voltage difference between the fuel cell stacks associated with operation of said system; correlating said sensed voltage difference with a fuel concentration in said anode flowpath; and upon attainment of a threshold value of said voltage difference based on said correlating, manipulating said at least one bleed valve to allow at least a portion of said fluid present in said anode flowpath to escape.