Procedure for starting up a fuel cell system using a fuel purge

Abstract

A procedure for starting up a fuel cell system that is disconnected from its primary load and has both its cathode and anode flow fields filled with air includes initiating a flow of air through the cathode flow field and rapidly displacing the air in the anode flow field by delivering a flow of fresh hydrogen containing fuel into the anode flow field, and thereafter connecting the primary load across the cell. Sufficiently fast purging of the anode flow field with hydrogen prior to connecting the cells to the load eliminates the need for purging the anode flow field with an inert gas, such as nitrogen, upon start-up.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A procedure for starting-up a fuel cell system that is shut down, the shut-down system comprising a fuel cell including a cathode flow field adjacent the cathode of the cell on one side of the cell electrolyte and an anode flow field adjacent the anode of the cell on the other side of the cell electrolyte, wherein both the anode flow field and cathode flow field are filled with air, and the primary electricity using device is disconnected from the fuel cell external circuit, the start-up procedure comprising the steps of: 
 purging the anode flow field of air by delivering a continuous flow of fresh hydrogen containing fuel into the anode flow field at a rate such that a fuel/air front moves through the anode flow field and displaces all the air initially present within the anode flow field in no more than 1.0 seconds, and thereafter connecting the primary electricity using device across the cell.    
     
     
         2 . The start-up procedure according to  claim 1 , wherein the fuel displaces the air in no more than 0.2 seconds.  
     
     
         3 . The start-up procedure according to  claim 2 , wherein the fuel displaces the air in no more than 0.05 seconds.  
     
     
         4 . The start-up procedure according to  claim 1 , wherein the flow of air to the cathode flow field is stopped during the time the said fuel/air front is moving through the anode flow field, and the flow of air to the cathode flow field commences prior to said step of connecting the primary electricity using device across the cell.  
     
     
         5 . The start-up procedure according to  claim 1 , wherein a continuous flow of air is provided to the cathode flow field during said step of purging the anode flow field of air.  
     
     
         6 . The start-up procedure according to  claim 3 , wherein no air is delivered into the cathode flow field during the time the said fuel/air front is moving through the anode flow field, and a flow of air to the cathode flow field is commenced prior to said step of connecting the primary electricity using device across the cell.