Method to reduce time until acceptable drive away in a fuel cell system

A method of reducing the start-up time for a fuel cell comprising:

• initiating a start sequence;
• after initiating the start sequence, concurrently initiating a run sequence including supporting load requests for the fuel cell, and stabilizing a voltage of the fuel cell;
• wherein stabilizing the voltage of the fuel cell comprises:
• providing a flow of hydrogen to the fuel cell and opening an anode valve, wherein the hydrogen flow continues for a predetermined volume of hydrogen or a predetermined time;
• initiating a counter for the predetermined volume of hydrogen or the predetermined time;
• determining whether an up transient condition exists;
• if the up transient condition exists, determining whether sufficient dilution air flow is present to obtain a targeted exhaust concentration;
• if the up transient condition exists and if sufficient dilution air flow is not present, closing the anode valve, pausing the counter for the predetermined volume of hydrogen or the predetermined time, and, and returning to determining whether the up transient condition exists;
• if the up transient condition exists and if sufficient dilution air flow is present, returning to determining whether the up transient condition exists;
• if the up transient condition does not exist or when the up transient condition no longer exists, resuming the counter if the counter is paused, and opening the center drain valve if the center drain valve is closed;
• determining whether the counter exceeds the predetermined volume of hydrogen or the predetermined time;
• if the counter does not exceed the predetermined volume of hydrogen or the predetermined time, returning to determining whether the up transient condition exists;
• if the counter exceeds the predetermined volume of hydrogen or the predetermined time, determining whether a reactive bleed request exists;
• if the reactive bleed request exists, returning to determining whether the up transient condition exists;
• and
• if the reactive bleed request does not exist, ending voltage stabilization while continuing the run sequence including supporting the load requests for the fuel cell.