Patent ID: 8728676
Filing Date: 2014-05-20
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
1. A fuel cell system, comprising: a source of hydrogen gas; a fuel cell stack configured to receive hydrogen gas from the source and to produce an electric current therefrom, wherein the fuel cell stack comprises a plurality of fuel cells that each include a cathode chamber that is configured to receive an air stream and an anode chamber that is configured to receive hydrogen gas from the source; a purge assembly configured to selectively purge the anode chambers of the fuel cells to reduce the concentration of at least a selected composition therein; and a controller configured to selectively actuate the purge assembly responsive to a value of a process parameter representative of a performance of the fuel cell stack; wherein the process parameter includes the cumulative amp-hours of current produced by the fuel cell stack during an operative cycle of the fuel cell stack.