A system for producing hydrogen and generating electrical power, comprising: a heat exchanger; a hydrocarbon dissociation reactor; a carbon separator; a direct carbon fuel cell, DCFC, comprising an anode and an electrolyte flow field; and a fluid circulation system configured to: circulate a hydrocarbon fuel source to the heat exchanger for heating the hydrocarbon fuel source in the heat exchanger; circulate the heated hydrocarbon fuel source to the hydrocarbon dissociation reactor for decomposing the hydrocarbon fuel source into hydrogen and carbon; circulate the hydrogen and carbon to the carbon separator for separating the carbon from the hydrogen; circulate a molten carbonate electrolyte to the carbon separator for mixing with the separated carbon to form a slurry; circulate the slurry to the electrolyte flow field of the DCFC for converting in the anode of the DCFC at least some carbon comprised in the slurry to carbon dioxide and electrical power, thereby forming a carbon-depleted slurry; circulate the carbon-depleted slurry away from the DCFC; and circulate one or more of the carbon-depleted slurry, the molten carbonate electrolyte, and carbon dioxide from the DCFC to the heat exchanger. a heat exchanger; a hydrocarbon dissociation reactor; a carbon separator; a direct carbon fuel cell, DCFC, comprising an anode and an electrolyte flow field; and a fluid circulation system configured to: circulate a hydrocarbon fuel source to the heat exchanger for heating the hydrocarbon fuel source in the heat exchanger; circulate the heated hydrocarbon fuel source to the hydrocarbon dissociation reactor for decomposing the hydrocarbon fuel source into hydrogen and carbon; circulate the hydrogen and carbon to the carbon separator for separating the carbon from the hydrogen; circulate a molten carbonate electrolyte to the carbon separator for mixing with the separated carbon to form a slurry; circulate the slurry to the electrolyte flow field of the DCFC for converting in the anode of the DCFC at least some carbon comprised in the slurry to carbon dioxide and electrical power, thereby forming a carbon-depleted slurry; circulate the carbon-depleted slurry away from the DCFC; and circulate one or more of the carbon-depleted slurry, the molten carbonate electrolyte, and carbon dioxide from the DCFC to the heat exchanger. circulate a hydrocarbon fuel source to the heat exchanger for heating the hydrocarbon fuel source in the heat exchanger; circulate the heated hydrocarbon fuel source to the hydrocarbon dissociation reactor for decomposing the hydrocarbon fuel source into hydrogen and carbon; circulate the hydrogen and carbon to the carbon separator for separating the carbon from the hydrogen; circulate a molten carbonate electrolyte to the carbon separator for mixing with the separated carbon to form a slurry; circulate the slurry to the electrolyte flow field of the DCFC for converting in the anode of the DCFC at least some carbon comprised in the slurry to carbon dioxide and electrical power, thereby forming a carbon-depleted slurry; circulate the carbon-depleted slurry away from the DCFC; and circulate one or more of the carbon-depleted slurry, the molten carbonate electrolyte, and carbon dioxide from the DCFC to the heat exchanger.