The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 21, 2010
Filed:
Aug. 26, 2004
Paul Taichiang Yu, Pittsford, NY (US);
Frederick T Wagner, Fairport, NY (US);
Paul Taichiang Yu, Pittsford, NY (US);
Frederick T Wagner, Fairport, NY (US);
Abstract
A method of fuel cell shutdown and start-up is provided. The method of shutdown includes introducing hydrogen gas into the cathode passages to purge a cathode gas from the cathode passages, then introducing air through the cathode and anode passages to remove water droplets and vapor from the fuel cell stacks. The method from fuel cell start-up includes introducing hydrogen gas into the anode and cathode passages to consume/purge oxygen in both the anode and cathode passages, and then introducing a cathode gas into the cathode passages. The introduction of hydrogen into the cathode passages in both the shutdown and start-up procedures allow a rapid draw down of the anode/cathode open circuit voltage and avoids providing a hydrogen/air front while the cathode is filled with air.