Patent ID: 7691508

Claim:
A device comprising: at least one fuel cell comprising an anode, a cathode and a membrane disposed between said anode and cathode; an anode flowpath configured to couple said anode to a fuel source, said anode flowpath having an anode inlet and an anode outlet; a fuel supply valve disposed between said fuel source and said anode; a cathode flowpath configured to couple said cathode to an oxygen source, said cathode flowpath having a cathode inlet and a cathode outlet; and an inert gas generation mechanism comprising: a recirculation loop disposed in said cathode flowpath between said cathode outlet and said cathode inlet; at least one valve disposed in said recirculation loop to selectively allow recycling of fluid therethrough; a fuel inerting valve selectively connecting said fuel source to said cathode flowpath to allow selective introduction of unreacted fuel from said fuel source to said recirculation loop such that said unreacted fuel reacts in said recirculation loop with oxygen to reduce the concentration thereof, said fuel inerting valve connected to said anode flowpath between said fuel source and said fuel supply valve; and a purge valve selectively connecting said cathode outlet and said anode inlet such that upon attainment of a substantially inert gas in said recirculation loop by said reaction, said purge valve facilitates transfer of said substantially inert gas to said anode flowpath, said purge valve connected to said anode flowpath between said fuel supply valve and said anode inlet.