Shutdown strategy to avoid carbon corrosion due to slow hydrogen/air intrusion rates

A method for minimizing carbon corrosion in a fuel cell system, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a fuel cell stack having a plurality of fuels cells, each of the fuel cells including an electrolyte membrane disposed between an anode and a cathode;
• providing an anode supply manifold and an anode exhaust manifold in fluid communication with the anodes of the fuel cells, wherein the anode supply manifold is in fluid communication with a source of hydrogen gas;
• performing a shutdown procedure, wherein hydrogen gas is present in the anodes and the cathodes after shutdown;
• and
• providing a fan in fluid communication with the anodes of the fuel cells for generating a flow across the anodes after shutdown.

A fuel cell system comprising:

• a fuel cell stack having a plurality of fuel cells, each of the fuel cells including an electrolyte membrane disposed between an anode and a cathode;
• an anode supply manifold in fluid communication with the anodes of the fuel cells, the anode supply manifold providing fluid communication between a source of hydrogen and the anodes;
• an anode exhaust manifold in fluid communication with the anodes of the fuel cells;
• and
• a fan in fluid communication with the anodes of the fuel cells, wherein the fan controls a flow of fluid through the anodes of the fuel cells after the fuel cell system is shutdown.