Patent ID: 7491455

Claim:
A method of fuel cell start-up for a fuel cell system having a hydrogen source connected to an anode inlet of a fuel cell stack and an oxygen source connected to a cathode inlet of the fuel cell stack, the cathode inlet being connected to a compressor, the method comprising the steps of: purging hydrogen from the fuel cell stack with air prior to startup; starting the fuel cell system by re-introducing said hydrogen to the anode inlet of the fuel cell stack, said hydrogen reacting with said air to generate an initial amount of electrical power; determining said initial amount of electrical power generated by the fuel cell stack with an electronic controller; applying an electrical load to the fuel cell stack via the compressor for supplying oxygen to the cathode inlet based on said initial amount of electrical power of the fuel cell stack; and gradually increasing said electrical load on the fuel cell stack over time while using increased electrical power generated to drive the compressor to supply additional oxygen to the cathode inlet.