Hydrogen passivation shut down system for a fuel cell power plant

摘要

The invention is a hydrogen passivation shut down system for a fuel cell power plant ( 10 ). An anode flow path ( 24 ) is in fluid communication with an anode catalyst ( 14 ) for directing hydrogen fuel to flow adjacent to the anode catalyst ( 14 ), and a cathode flow path ( 38 ) is in fluid communication with a cathode catalyst ( 16 ) for directing an oxidant to flow adjacent to the cathode catalyst ( 16 ) of a fuel cell ( 12 ). Hydrogen fuel is permitted to transfer between the anode flow path ( 24 ) and the cathode flow path ( 38 ). A hydrogen reservoir ( 66 ) is secured in fluid communication with the anode flow path ( 24 ) for receiving and storing hydrogen during fuel cell ( 12 ) operation, and for releasing the hydrogen into fuel cell ( 12 ) whenever the fuel cell ( 12 ) is shut down.