A water recovery assembly for use in a molten carbonate fuel cell system having an anode and a cathode, said anode being adapted to receive fuel and to output anode exhaust, said water recovery assembly comprising: a first cooling assembly adapted to receive and quench cool said anode exhaust to recover a first portion of water including electrolyte from said anode exhaust and to output quenched anode exhaust and said first portion of water, said first cooling assembly comprising: a quench assembly including a downward-facing path adapted to pass said anode exhaust therethrough, said quench assembly being adapted to receive a predetermined amount of spray water and use said spray water to quench cool said anode exhaust and thereby condense said first portion of water from said anode exhaust, and a blowdown assembly adapted to remove electrolyte from said first portion of water outputted from said quench assembly by discharging blowdown water, and thereafter recycle said first portion of water to said quench assembly for use as said spray water; and a second cooling assembly comprising a packed tower, the packed tower being adapted to receive said quenched anode exhaust from the first cooling assembly and recover a second portion of water from said quenched anode exhaust, said second portion of water being substantially free of electrolyte and suitable for humidifying said fuel supplied to said anode; wherein said packed tower is adapted to receive said quenched anode exhaust at a first end and to receive recycled water at a second end, wherein said quenched anode exhaust flows from said first end toward said second end and said recycled water flows from said second end toward said first end, and wherein remaining water in the quenched anode exhaust is separated from the anode exhaust by condensation. a first cooling assembly adapted to receive and quench cool said anode exhaust to recover a first portion of water including electrolyte from said anode exhaust and to output quenched anode exhaust and said first portion of water, said first cooling assembly comprising: a quench assembly including a downward-facing path adapted to pass said anode exhaust therethrough, said quench assembly being adapted to receive a predetermined amount of spray water and use said spray water to quench cool said anode exhaust and thereby condense said first portion of water from said anode exhaust, and a blowdown assembly adapted to remove electrolyte from said first portion of water outputted from said quench assembly by discharging blowdown water, and thereafter recycle said first portion of water to said quench assembly for use as said spray water; and a quench assembly including a downward-facing path adapted to pass said anode exhaust therethrough, said quench assembly being adapted to receive a predetermined amount of spray water and use said spray water to quench cool said anode exhaust and thereby condense said first portion of water from said anode exhaust, and a blowdown assembly adapted to remove electrolyte from said first portion of water outputted from said quench assembly by discharging blowdown water, and thereafter recycle said first portion of water to said quench assembly for use as said spray water; and a second cooling assembly comprising a packed tower, the packed tower being adapted to receive said quenched anode exhaust from the first cooling assembly and recover a second portion of water from said quenched anode exhaust, said second portion of water being substantially free of electrolyte and suitable for humidifying said fuel supplied to said anode; wherein said packed tower is adapted to receive said quenched anode exhaust at a first end and to receive recycled water at a second end, wherein said quenched anode exhaust flows from said first end toward said second end and said recycled water flows from said second end toward said first end, and wherein remaining water in the quenched anode exhaust is separated from the anode exhaust by condensation.