FUEL CELL HIBERNATION MODE METHOD AND APPARATUS

摘要

A system and method for operating a power system with a fuel cell stack and a power source are disclosed. Briefly described, one embodiment is a method that halts a flow of an oxidant to the first fuel cell stack in response to at least one of a power demand of the power system or a load supplied to a power system being less than a threshold, wherein the first amount of power decreases as a residual amount of oxidant in the first fuel cell stack is reacted; operates a fuel recirculation system to recirculate a flow of a fuel to the first fuel cell stack at least during at least a portion of a period while the flow of the oxidant to the first fuel cell stack is halted; and replaces the decreased first amount of power with a corresponding second amount of power from the second power source.