Patent ID: 6828048
Filing Date: 2004-12-07
Classification: B01J,C01B,H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
In the operation of a fuel cell system comprising (A) a fuel cell and (B) a source of organic fuel, (C) a source of air, and (D) a fuel processing system for converting an organic fuel into hydrogen, the fuel processing system comprising multiple catalytic fuel processing components, including a fuel reformer in series flow relationship with a catalytic shift converter, wherein, during fuel cell operation, a load is connected across the cell and organic fuel from the source is directed, in series, through the catalyst bed of the fuel reformer, the catalyst bed of the shift converter, and fuel cell anode flow field, a procedure for shutting down the fuel cell and fuel processing system comprising the steps of:a. disconnecting the load from the cell and halting the flow of organic fuel from the source to the fuel processing system; and, then b. purging the reformer of residual hydrogen by flowing air through the reformer catalyst bed.