Patent ID: 7648784

Claim:
A fuel cell system for providing an electric power output in response to a load demanded by a system application, comprising: a) a plurality of fuel cell modules, each including a local module controller, wherein said plurality of fuel cell modules are variably connectable in parallel and capable of a total power output TP; and b) a master controller in communication with said plurality of local module controllers, wherein any number of said modules between 2 and the total number of said plurality are selectively connected electrically in parallel by said master controller to satisfy said demanded load, wherein said master controller is programmed with an algorithm for determining how many of said modules are to be connected together at any given time in order to meet said demanded load, wherein one factor in said algorithm includes a load switching point LSP factor, said load switching point LSP being a percentage of said total power output TP, wherein said percentage is less than 100% of said total power output TP.