Patent ID: 8232018

Claim:
A fuel cell system comprising: a split fuel cell stack including a first sub-stack and a second sub-stack; a first anode input line coupled to the first sub-stack; a second anode input line coupled to the second sub-stack; a connector line for connecting anode flow channels in the first and second sub-stacks; a hydrogen source for providing hydrogen gas to the first and second anode input lines; a first nitrogen bleed valve coupled to the first input line; and a second nitrogen bleed valve coupled to the second input line, wherein when the hydrogen source provides the hydrogen gas to the first input line and a nitrogen bleed is requested, the first bleed valve is closed and the second bleed valve is opened, and when the hydrogen source provides the hydrogen gas to the second anode input line and a nitrogen bleed is requested, the second bleed valve is closed and the first bleed valve is opened.