Patent ID: 7892689

Claim:
A fuel cell-based system comprising: a fuel cell stack; a fuel path to conduct a pressurized fuel flow from a fuel source to the fuel cell stack; a system controller to control the fuel cell system; and a pressure relief control system connected to the fuel path and a vent path, wherein in response to detection of the fuel flow pressure in the fuel path exceeding a first threshold, the pressure relief control system interrupts communication of power to the system controller and isolates the fuel cell stack from the fuel path, and wherein in response to detection of the fuel flow pressure in the fuel path exceeding a second predefined threshold, the pressure relief control system releases a portion of fuel in the fuel path through the vent path, wherein the pressure relief control system includes a pressure switch to interrupt the communication of power to the system controller, and wherein the pressure switch is activated by application of a fuel flow pressure to the pressure switch that exceeds the first threshold and wherein the pressure relief control system is further configured to isolate the fuel cell stack from the fuel path in response to detection of an amount of fuel in the vent path that exceeds a threshold amount.