METHOD OF PRODUCING A NITROGEN ENRICHED STREAM FROM AN ELECTROCHEMICAL SYSTEM

A method of producing a nitrogen enriched stream from an electrochemical system. The method includes operating the electrochemical system in an operating state, operating the electrochemical system in a bleed down state to produce a nitrogen enriched stream on a cathode side of the electrochemical system, and exhausting the nitrogen enriched stream from the cathode side of the electrochemical system through an exhaust valve to produce the nitrogen enriched stream from the electrochemical system. The produced nitrogen gas may be used to purge, blanket, cool, and/or diagnose state of health (SoH) of an electrochemical system such as a PEMFC system.