METHOD FOR SHUTTING DOWN A FUEL CELL SYSTEM

A method for shutting down a fuel cell system () having at least one fuel cell (), which fuel cell comprises an anode chamber () and a cathode chamber (), wherein after the shut-down hydrogen remains in the anode chamber () of the fuel cell () in order to prevent carbon corrosion and to ensure a hydrogen protection time. The invention is characterized in that when the hydrogen in the anode chamber () is largely used up directly or after a specified number of subsequent meterings of hydrogen at least into the anode chamber (), the hydrogen protection time is actively terminated by air being actively admitted into the cathode chamber (), the fuel cell () being actively cooled before air is actively admitted into the cathode chamber ().