The invention is a start up system and method for a fuel cell power plant
(10) using a purging of the cathode flow field (38) with a hydrogen rich
reducing fluid fuel to minimize corrosion of the cathode electrode (16).
The method for starting up the shut down fuel cell power plant (10)
includes the steps of: a. purging the cathode flow field (38) with the
reducing fluid fuel; b. then, directing the reducing fluid fuel to flow
through an anode flow field (28); c. next, terminating flow of the fuel
through the cathode flow field (38) and directing an oxygen containing
oxidant to flow through the cathode flow field (38); and, d. finally,
connecting a primary load (70) to the fuel cell (12) so that electrical
current flows from the fuel cell (12) to the primary load (70).
