System and method for shutting down a fuel cell power plant
US6835479B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 26, 2002 |
| Grant date | Dec 28, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 30, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E60/50
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The invention is a system and method for shutting down a fuel cell power plant having at least one fuel cell, a primary load, and an auxiliary load that receive electrical current from electrodes of the fuel cell through an external circuit. Shutting down the plant includes disconnecting the primary load; terminating flow of the oxidant through a cathode flow field; connecting the auxiliary load to consume oxygen within the fuel cell; disconnecting the auxiliary load; connecting a power supply to the fuel cell electrodes to increase a concentration of hydrogen within the cathode flow field; and, then, decreasing or eliminating flow of hydrogen into an anode flow field after an equilibrium gas concentration of at least 0.0001% hydrogen, balance fuel cell inert gases, is achieved in both the anode and cathode flow fields.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.