Individual cell shorting during startup and shutdown using an integrated switch

摘要

An electrical shorting device for a fuel cell is provided, wherein the shorting device includes an electrically conductive body and an actuator coupled to the conductive body and adapted to selectively position the body between an electrically conductive and a non-electrically conductive position to selectively provide electrical communication between an anode plate and a cathode plate of the fuel cell. The shorting device facilitates electrical shorting of individual cells during the startup and shutdown of the fuel cell to eliminate the electrical potential across a proton exchange membrane that causes a degradation of a catalyst layer disposed on an a surface of an electrode of the fuel cells.