Patent ID: 7666534

Claim:
A fuel cell system comprising: a fuel source means for supplying a fuel; a fuel reformer means for reforming said fuel into a reformate; a means for transferring said fuel from said fuel source means to said fuel reformer means; a fuel cell comprising an anode; one or more electro-catalytic oxidation devices (ECOD) whereby each ECOD comprises an ECOD anode, an ECOD cathode, and an ECOD electrolyte whereby: said ECOD anode has a first and second end, and is porous and chemically active to the electro-catalytic oxidation of carbon; said ECOD anode creates an ECOD effluent; said first end of said ECOD anode is connected to said fuel reformer means whereby said reformate is transferred from said fuel reformer means to said ECOD anode; said second end of said ECOD anode is connected to said fuel cell whereby said ECOD effluent is transferred to said anode of said fuel cell; said ECOD electrolyte is positioned between and in ionic contact with said ECOD anode and said ECOD cathode; a means for electrically connecting said ECOD anode and said ECOD cathode; and a means for maintaining the temperature of said ECOD anode between about 400° C. and 650° C.