Fuel cell control system and method for adjusting operation in response to low purity hydrogen fuel

Abstract

A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack including an anode electrode, a first gas diffusion layer arranged adjacent to the anode electrode and defining an anode volume, a cathode electrode, a second gas diffusion layer arranged adjacent to the cathode electrode, and a proton exchange membrane (PEM) arranged between the anode electrode and the cathode electrode. One or more hydrogen injectors configured to inject hydrogen fuel into the first gas diffusion layer. A bleed valve is in fluid communication with the anode volume of the first gas diffusion layer. A controller is configured to receive a hydrogen purity of the hydrogen fuel and to at least one of selectively reduce a maximum output power of the fuel cell stack and increase flow through the bleed valve in response to changes in the hydrogen purity.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.