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Disclosed is a polymer electrolyte fuel cell having an improved separator plate. The fuel cell comprises a solid polymer electrolyte membrane; an anode and a cathode sandwiching the solid polymer electrolyte membrane therebetween; an anode-side conductive separator plate having a gas flow path for s

Disclosed is a polymer electrolyte fuel cell having an improved separator plate. The fuel cell comprises a solid polymer electrolyte membrane; an anode and a cathode sandwiching the solid polymer electrolyte membrane therebetween; an anode-side conductive separator plate having a gas flow path for supplying a fuel gas to the anode; and a cathode-side conductive separator plate having a gas flow path for supplying an oxidant gas to the cathode, wherein each of the anode-side and cathode-side conductive separator plates is composed of a metal and a conductive coat which has resistance to oxidation and covers a surface of the metal. Alternatively, the above-mentioned separator plates are formed of a metal and a coat having resistance to oxidation and have roughened surfaces with recessions and protrusions, and portions of a top surface of the protruding portions, which lack the coat, are electrically connected to an electrode.

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Disclosed is a polymer electrolyte fuel cell having an improved separator plate. The fuel cell comprises a solid polymer electrolyte membrane; an anode and a cathode sandwiching the solid polymer electrolyte membrane therebetween; an anode-side conductive separator plate having a gas flow path for s

Disclosed is a polymer electrolyte fuel cell having an improved separator plate. The fuel cell comprises a solid polymer electrolyte membrane; an anode and a cathode sandwiching the solid polymer electrolyte membrane therebetween; an anode-side conductive separator plate having a gas flow path for supplying a fuel gas to the anode; and a cathode-side conductive separator plate having a gas flow path for supplying an oxidant gas to the cathode, wherein each of the anode-side and cathode-side conductive separator plates is composed of a metal and a conductive coat which has resistance to oxidation and covers a surface of the metal. Alternatively, the above-mentioned separator plates are formed of a metal and a coat having resistance to oxidation and have roughened surfaces with recessions and protrusions, and portions of a top surface of the protruding portions, which lack the coat, are electrically connected to an electrode. neration system of claim 1 wherein the fuel processor further comprises a selective oxidizer downstream of the reformer and fluidly connected thereto, and an air supply fluidly connected to the selective oxidizer, and wherein the oxidant supply comprises the air supply connected to the selective oxidizer. 15. The power generation system of claim 1 wherein the fuel processor further comprises a preoxidizer upstream of the reformer and fluidly connected thereto. 16. The power generation system of claim 1 wherein the fuel processor further comprises a desulfurizer upstream of the reformer and fluidly connected thereto. 17. The power generation system of claim 1 wherein the fuel processor further comprises a shift reactor downstream of the reformer and fluidly connected thereto. 18. The power generation system of claim 1 wherein the fuel processor further comprises a selective oxidizer downstream of the reformer and fluidly connected thereto. 19. The power generation system of claim 1 wherein the fuel processor further comprises a PSA unit fluidly connected to the reformer. 20. The power generation system of claim 1 wherein the fuel processor comprises the at least one self-reducing catalyst bed. 21. The power generation system of claim 1 wherein the reformer comprises the at least one self-reducing catalyst bed. 22. The power generation system of claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary bed comprising the at least one self-reducing catalyst bed. 23. A self-inerting fuel cell electric power generation system comprising: (a) a fuel processor comprising a reformer for reforming a fuel to a reformate stream comprising hydrogen; (b) at least one self-reducing catalyst bed; (c) a fuel cell stack fluidly connected to the fuel processor for receiving the reformate stream; (d) a recycle loop for circulating a gas stream through the fuel processor and the at least one self-reducing catalyst bed during shutdown of the fuel processing system; and (e) means for introducing an oxidant into the recycle loop during shutdown of the fuel processing system. 24. A self-inerting fuel processing system comprising: (a) a fuel processor comprising a reformer for reforming a fuel to a reformate stream comprising hydrogen; (b) at least one self-reducing catalyst bed; (c) a recycle loop for circulating a gas stream through the fuel processor and the at least one self-reducing catalyst bed during shutdown of the fuel processing system; and (d) an oxidant supply fluidly connected to the recycle loop for introducing an oxidant into the recycle loop during shutdown of the fuel processing system. 25. The fuel processing system of claim 24 wherein the oxidant supply is selected from the group consisting of open lines, check valves, pressurized oxidant storage containers, air compressors, burner exhaust gas outlets, and PSA off-gas outlets. 26. The fuel processing system of claim 24 wherein the oxidant supply comprises an open line. 27. The fuel processing system of claim 24 wherein the oxidant supply comprises a check valve. 28. The fuel processing system of claim 24 wherein the fuel processor further comprises a PSA unit fluidly connected to the reformer, the PSA unit having an off-gas exhaust outlet, and wherein the oxidant supply comprises the PSA off-gas exhaust outlet. 29. The fuel processing system of claim 24 wherein the fuel processor further comprises a burner associated with the reformer, the burner having an exhaust outlet, and wherein the oxidant supply comprises the burner exhaust outlet. 30. The fuel processing system of claim 24 wherein the fuel processor further comprises a selective oxidizer downstream of the reformer and fluidly connected thereto, and an air supply fluidly connected to the selective oxidizer, and wherein the oxidant supply comprises the air supply connected to the selective oxidizer. 31. The fuel processing system of claim 24 wherein the fuel processor comprises the at least one self-reducing catalyst bed. 32. The fuel processing system of claim 24 wherein the reformer comprises the at least one self-reducing catalyst bed. 33. The fuel processing system of claim 24, further comprising an auxiliary bed comprising the at least one self-reducing catalyst bed. 34. A self-inerting fuel processing system comprising: (a) a fuel processor comprising a reformer for reforming a fuel to a reformate stream comprising hydrogen; (b) at least one self-reducing catalyst bed; (c) a recycle loop for circulating a gas stream through the fuel processor and the at least one self-reducing catalyst bed during shutdown of the fuel processing system; and (d) means for introducing an oxidant into the recycle loop during shutdown of the fuel processing system. 35. A method of shutting down a fuel processing system comprising a fuel processor for reforming a fuel to a reformate stream comprising hydrogen, at least one self-reducing catalyst bed, and a recycle loop for circulating a gas stream through the fuel processor and the self-reducing catalyst bed, the method comprising: (a) interrupting supply of fuel to the fuel processor; (b) introducing an oxidant into the recycle loop; (c) removing at least a portion of the oxygen in the introduced air by oxidizing the at least one self-reducing catalyst bed to produce a substantially inert gas stream; and (d) circulating the substantially inert gas stream in the recycle loop. 36. The method of claim 35 wherein in step (b), oxidant is introduced into the recycle loop via an open line fluidly connected thereto. 37. The method of claim 35 wherein in step (b), oxidant is introduced into the recycle loop via a check valve fluidly connected thereto. 38. The method of claim 35 wherein the fuel processor comprises a PSA unit having an off-gas exhaust outlet fluidly connected to the recycle loop and wherein in step (b), oxidant is introduced into the recycle loop via the PSA off-gas exhaust outlet. 39. The method of claim 35 wherein the fuel processor comprises a selective oxidizer having the at least one self-reducing catalyst bed, and an air supply fluidly connected to the selective oxidizer, and wherein in step (b), oxidant is introduced into the recycle loop via the air supply. 40. The method of claim 35 wherein the fuel processor comprises the at least one self-reducing catalyst bed. 41. The method of claim 35 wherein the fuel processor comprises a reformer. 42. The method of claim 41 wherein the reformer comprises the at least one self-reducing catalyst bed. 43. The method of claim 41 wherein the fuel processor further comprises a burner associated with the reformer, the burner having a burner exhaust outlet fluidly connected to the recycle loop, and wherein in step (b), oxidant is introduced into the recycle loop via the burner exhaust outlet. 44. The method of claim 41 wherein the fuel processing system further comprises an auxiliary bed comprising the at least one self-reducing catalyst bed. 45. The method of claim 35, further comprising: (e) purging reaction gas from the fuel processor, wherein the reaction gas comprises fuel, reformate, or both. 46. The method of claim 45 wherein step (e) further comprises catalytically combusting the reaction gas with at least a portion of the oxygen in the introduced oxidant. 47. The method of claim 45 wherein the fuel processor comprises a steam reformer and step (e) comprises purging the fuel processor with steam. 48. The method of claim 45 wherein the fuel processor comprises a steam reformer and a burner associated therewith, and step (e) further comprises supplying the reaction gas to the burner and combusting therein. 49. The method of claim 48, further comprising interrupting the supply of the reaction gas to the burner when combustion ceases therein. 50. The method of claim 45 wherein step (c) further comprises catalytically combusting the reaction gas with at least a portion of the oxygen in the introduced oxidant. 51. The method of claim 35 wherei