Patent ID: 6984464

Claim:
A hydrogen passivation shut down system for a fuel cell power plant ( 10 ), the system comprising: a. 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 ); b. a hydrogen inlet valve ( 52 ) secured between a hydrogen containing reducing fluid fuel source ( 54 ) and the anode flow path ( 24 ) for selectively permitting the hydrogen fuel to flow into the anode flow path ( 24 ); c. an oxidant inlet valve ( 56 ) secured between an oxygen containing oxidant source ( 58 ) and the cathode flow path ( 38 ) for selectively permitting the oxidant to flow into the cathode flow path ( 38 ); d. hydrogen transfer means secured in communication between the anode flow path ( 24 ) and the oxidant flow path ( 38 ) for selectively permitting flow of the hydrogen fuel between the anode flow path ( 24 ) and the cathode flow path ( 38 ); e. hydrogen reservoir means secured in fluid communication with the anode flow path ( 24 ) for storing the hydrogen fuel whenever the hydrogen inlet valve ( 52 ) is open to permit flow of the hydrogen fuel through the anode flow path ( 24 ), and for releasing hydrogen fuel into the anode flow path ( 24 ) whenever the hydrogen inlet valve ( 52 ) is closed; and, f. wherein the hydrogen reservoir means comprises a hydrogen storage media secured within a porous anode substrate layer ( 20 ) supporting the anode catalyst ( 14 ).