Fuel cell system and method for determining purity level of hydrogen gas provided to an anode side of the fuel cell

A method for determining a purity level of hydrogen gas being provided to an anode side of a fuel cell stack, said method comprising:

• determining whether predetermined criteria have been met that are necessary to obtain an accurate hydrogen gas purity level;
• comparing a measured current of the fuel cell stack to a modeled current of the fuel cell stack based on the predetermined criteria having been met;
• and
• adapting a hydrogen gas concentration value to a lower purity level based on a difference between the measured current of the fuel cell stack and the modeled current of the fuel cell stack being greater than a predetermined threshold.

A system for determining a purity level of hydrogen gas being provided to an anode side of a fuel cell stack, said system comprising:

• a controller programmed to determine whether predetermined criteria have been met that are necessary to obtain an accurate hydrogen gas purity level;
• and comparing a measured voltage of the fuel cell stack to a modeled voltage of the fuel cell stack if the predetermined criteria have been met;
• and
• wherein the controller is programmed to adapt a hydrogen gas concentration value to a lower purity level if a difference between the measured voltage of the fuel cell stack and the modeled voltage of the fuel cell stack is greater than a predetermined threshold.