Control system and method for starting a frozen fuel cell

摘要

A method for starting a frozen fuel cell stack includes discontinuing reactant humidification before shutting down the fuel cell stack. The anode and cathode are purged with the dry reactants. The fuel cell stack is soaked at freezing temperatures. During subsequent startup, dry reactants are initially delivered. An outlet temperature of the anode and a current load of the fuel cell stack are measured. The dry reactants are shut off when the temperature of the anode outlet or the current load reach predetermined values. The open circuit voltage potential of the fuel cells is monitored and compared to a first voltage value. When the open circuit voltage exceeds the first value, the fuel cell stack begins supplying current load. The current load of the fuel cell stack is increased or decreased based on a difference between the minimum voltage and a second voltage value.