Shutdown operations for a sealed anode fuel cell system

Details Shutdown operations for a sealed anode fuel cell system Shutdown operations for a sealed anode fuel cell system

2008-04-16

2011-11-01

Crepeau, Jonathan (Department: 1725)

Chemistry: electrical current producing apparatus, product, and

Fuel cell, subcombination thereof, or method of making or...

Process or means for control of operation

C429S432000, C429S444000, C429S452000, C429S505000

Reexamination Certificate

active

08048579

ABSTRACT:
Processes to shut down a fuel cell system are described. In one implementation (400), fuel (H2) and oxidizer (air) flow is halted and the system's anode region (305) is sealed. A load (215) is then engaged across the system's fuel cell stack (205) so as to deplete much of the fuel in the stack's sealed anode region (305). The stack (205) is monitored to determine when the load should be disengaged. (215). Once the load is disengaged, fluid communication between the system's anode and cathode regions is established. The vacuum created in the anode region (305) as a consequence of consuming H2therein, pulls nitrogen enriched gas from the cathode region (310) into the anode region (305). When substantially all of the H2has been depleted from the anode region (305), no pressure difference exists between the anode and cathode regions and fluid communication between the two is severed.

REFERENCES:
patent: 5045414 (1991-09-01), Bushnell et al.
patent: 2005/0142399 (2005-06-01), Kulp et al.
patent: 2006/0188765 (2006-08-01), Matsuzaki et al.
patent: 2007/0037025 (2007-02-01), Venkataraman et al.
“Dummy Load”, Reach Information 2008, p. 1-2, retrieved online on Apr. 3, 2011 from: http://www.reachinformation.com/define/Dummy—load.aspx.

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