Verfahren zum Starten einer Brennstoffzelle mittels einer Brennstoffspülung

摘要

A vacuum fuel cell system ( 10 ) and procedure provide for starting up a fuel cell ( 12 ) with a rapid fuel purge of an anode flow field ( 38 ) to minimize corrosion of a carbon catalyst support layer ( 26 ) by a reverse current mechanism produced by movement of a fuel-air front through the anode flow field ( 38 ). A vacuum source ( 90 ) applies a vacuum to the anode flow field ( 38 ) while the fuel cell ( 12 ) is shut down and while a fuel inlet valve ( 70 ) and a fuel exhaust valve ( 74 ) are closed. The resulting vacuum within the anode flow field ( 38 ) produces rapid purge of the fuel through the anode flow field ( 38 ) upon start up, and a strong vacuum will get rid of essentially all of the air within the anode flow field ( 38 ) to virtually eliminate movement of the fuel-air front.