Patent ID: 7749627

Claim:
A method for operating a fuel cell utilizing at least one fuel and generating liquid exhaust and gaseous exhaust in the process, wherein said fuel cell having a fuel supplying source, a fuel cell stack, a supply valve, and a reservoir, wherein a flow rate of the fuel to the fuel cell stack is controlled by the supply valve, wherein the reservoir stores the gaseous exhaust and the liquid exhaust as a function of the flow rate, and wherein the reservoir provides the fuel to the fuel cell stack as a function of the flow rate, comprising the steps of: supplying said fuel to said fuel cell stack and said reservoir from said fuel supplying source for a first operating period; operating said fuel cell with fuel from said reservoir for a second operating period; and supplying said fuel to said fuel cell stack and said reservoir from said fuel supplying source and removing liquid and gaseous exhaust from said fuel cell for a third operating period.