Fuel cell system containing catalyst based fuel contamination sensor and method of operating thereof

A method operating a fuel cell system, comprising:

• controlling provision of fuel to the fuel cell system operating in a steady-state mode;
• operating a catalyst sensor by providing a portion of the fuel and anode exhaust generated by the fuel cell system to the catalyst sensor;
• detecting a change in an outlet temperature of the catalyst sensor;
• and
• determining whether a reformation catalyst of the catalyst sensor is poisoned by contaminants in the fuel based on the detected change in the outlet temperature.

A method operating a fuel cell system, comprising:

• controlling provision of fuel to the fuel cell system operating in a steady-state mode;
• operating a catalyst sensor by providing a portion of the fuel and anode exhaust generated by the system to the catalyst sensor and by heating the catalyst sensor using a heating element;
• detecting an outlet temperature of the catalyst sensor and operating the heating element to maintain the outlet temperature of the catalyst sensor at predetermined constant value;
• and
• determining whether a reformation catalyst of the catalyst sensor is poisoned by contaminants in the fuel based on a decrease in an amount of power drawn by the heating element.