Patent ID: 6632551
Filing Date: 2003-10-14
Classification: H01M,Y02E

Abstract:
A method of operating a fuel cell system having at least one fuel cell, with one of a reforming unit and an evaporating unit for providing fuel to the at least one fuel cell, said at least one fuel cell having an anode side and a cathode side, said method comprising:supplying at least on off-gas from said cathode side to a catalytic burner; burning said off-gas in said catalytic burner, thereby heating it to a first temperature; routing said heated off-gas from said catalytic burner to an expansion machine, where it is cooled to a second, lower temperature; and feeding a gas output from said expansion machine to a heating chamber of said reforming or evaporating unit, where it is cooled to a third temperature, lower than said first and second temperatures.