An apparatus and method for operating a fuel cell power system utilizing a
low voltage power source and system power to power an airmover. The fuel
cell power system uses a low voltage power source to power the airmover
during start-up and transitions to using system power to power the
airmover as the fuel cell stack increases its voltage output. During a
shutdown operation the fuel cell power system transitions from using
system power to using the low voltage power source to power the airmover
enabling a purging operation to be performed. A controller coordinates
the operation of the airmover between using the low voltage power source
and using electrical power produced by the fuel cell stack to power the
airmover.