Patent ID: 8455146

Claim:
A rapid start-up system for a fuel cell power plant ( 10 ) utilizing a hydrogen-rich reformate fuel, the system comprising: a. a reformer ( 12 ) for producing the hydrogen-rich reformate fuel; b. at least one fuel cell ( 22 ) for generating electrical current from the reformate fuel and an oxygen containing oxidant, the fuel cell ( 22 ) including an anode catalyst ( 24 ) and a cathode catalyst ( 26 ) secured to opposed sides of an electrolyte ( 28 ), an anode flow field ( 30 ) defined in fluid communication with the anode catalyst ( 24 ) and through a fuel inlet line ( 18 ) with the reformer ( 12 ) for directing flow of the reformate fuel from the fuel inlet line ( 18 ) adjacent the anode catalyst ( 24 ), a cathode flow field ( 36 ) defined in fluid communication with the cathode catalyst ( 26 ) and through an oxidant inlet line ( 38 ) and oxidant inlet valve ( 40 ) with an oxidant source ( 42 ) for directing flow of the oxidant adjacent the cathode catalyst ( 26 ); c. a primary load ( 52 ) secured in electrical communication through an external circuit ( 54 ) with the fuel cell ( 22 ), the external circuit ( 54 ) including a primary load switch ( 56 ); d. an electrical power supply ( 58 ) for supplying direct current through a power switch ( 60 ) to the fuel cell ( 22 ); and, e. a hydrogen storage tank ( 62 ) selectively secured in fluid communication through a cathode exhaust valve ( 46 ) with the cathode flow field ( 36 ) and through a fuel inlet valve ( 20 ) with the fuel inlet line ( 18 ), and the hydrogen storage tank ( 62 ) secured in communication with a controller programmed for; i. selecting the hydrogen storage tank ( 62 ) to be in fluid communication through the cathode exhaust valve ( 46 ) with the cathode flow field ( 36 ) whenever the primary load switch ( 56 ) is open and the power switch ( 60 ) is closed; ii. selecting the hydrogen storage tank ( 62 ) to not be in fluid communication with the cathode flow field ( 36 ) whenever the power switch ( 60 ) is open; iii. selecting the hydrogen storage tank ( 62 ) to not be in fluid communication with the fuel inlet line ( 18 ) whenever the primary load switch ( 56 ) is open; iv. selecting the hydrogen storage tank ( 62 ) to be in fluid communication through the fuel inlet valve ( 20 ) with the fuel inlet line ( 18 ) whenever the primary load switch ( 56 ) is closed; and, v. the hydrogen storage tank ( 62 ) being for selectively storing hydrogen produced within the cathode flow field ( 36 ) whenever the primary load switch ( 56 ) is open and the power switch ( 60 ) is closed to electrochemically transfer hydrogen from the anode catalyst ( 24 ) to the cathode catalyst ( 26 ) for storage of the transferred hydrogen in the hydrogen storage tank ( 62 ).