PROCEDURE FOR STARTING UP A FUEL CELL USING A FUEL PURGE

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.