A controller stops flow of posolyte through a positive electrode chamber of a flow cell to trap the posolyte within the positive electrode chamber and hydraulically isolate the flow cell without stopping flow of negolyte through a negative electrode chamber of the flow cell, discharges the flow cell until hydrogen gas is evolved at a reactive surface of the positive electrode chamber while the posolyte is trapped within the positive electrode chamber, and subsequently discontinues the discharge and restarts the flow of the posolyte through the positive electrode chamber.