Rapid start-up and operating system for a fuel cell power plant utilizing a reformate

A rapid start-up system for a fuel cell power plant (10) utilizing a hydrogen-rich reformate fuel, the system comprising:

• a. a reformer (12) for producing the hydrogen-rich reformate fuel;
• b. at least one fuel cell (22) for generating electrical current from the reformate fuel and an oxygen containing oxidant, the fuel cell (22) including an anode catalyst (24) and a cathode catalyst (26) secured to opposed sides of an electrolyte (28), an anode flow field (30) defined in fluid communication with the anode catalyst (24) and through a fuel inlet line (18) with the reformer (12) for directing flow of the reformate fuel from the fuel inlet line (18) adjacent the anode catalyst (24), a cathode flow field (36) defined in fluid communication with the cathode catalyst (26) and through an oxidant inlet line (38) and oxidant inlet valve (40) with an oxidant source (42) for directing flow of the oxidant adjacent the cathode catalyst (26);
• c. a primary load (52) secured in electrical communication through an external circuit (54) with the fuel cell (22), the external circuit (54) including a primary load switch (56);
• d. an electrical power supply (58) for supplying direct current through a power switch (60) to the fuel cell (22);
• and,
• e. a hydrogen storage tank (62) secured in fluid communication with the cathode flow field (36) and the fuel inlet line (18), for selectively storing hydrogen produced within the cathode flow field (36) whenever the primary load switch (56) is open and the power switch (60) is closed to electrochemically transfer hydrogen from the anode catalyst (24) to the cathode catalyst (26) for storage of the transferred hydrogen in the hydrogen storage tank (62).