Fuel Cell System and Method of Operating the Same

Abstract

A method of operating a fuel cell system with at least one fuel cell unit comprising a plurality of fuel cells, each having one anode and one cathode, the anode adjoining an anode gas compartment and the cathode adjoining a cathode gas compartment, hydrogen being supplied to the anode and an oxidizing agent being supplied to the cathode. Hydrogen is supplied to the anode compartment during a retention time before start-up of the fuel cell system, in which no fuel cell reaction takes place in the fuel cell unit. Hydrogen is stored in an adsorption storage element during fuel cell operation and released to the anode compartment during the retention time.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.