A method for starting a frozen fuel cell stack includes discontinuing reactant
humidification before shutting down the fuel cell stack. The anode and cathode
are purged with the dry reactants. The fuel cell stack is soaked at freezing temperatures.
During subsequent startup, dry reactants are initially delivered. An outlet temperature
of the anode and a current load of the fuel cell stack are measured. The dry reactants
are shut off when the temperature of the anode outlet or the current load reach
predetermined values. The open circuit voltage potential of the fuel cells is monitored
and compared to a first voltage value. When the open circuit voltage exceeds the
first value, the fuel cell stack begins supplying current load. The current load
of the fuel cell stack is increased or decreased based on a difference between
the minimum voltage and a second voltage value.
