Patent ID: 7763368

Claim:
A fuel cell system for producing electrical energy, the fuel cell system comprising: a fuel processor that includes a reformer configured to receive a fuel source, configured to output hydrogen, and including a catalyst that facilitates the production of hydrogen; a burner configured to provide heat to the reformer; a fuel cell including a fuel cell stack configured to produce electrical energy using hydrogen output by the fuel processor, the fuel cell stack including a bi-polar plate having i) a single substrate from a first face to a second face, ii) a first channel field disposed on the first face and having a first set of channels formed into the first face, iii) a second channel field disposed on the second face and having a second set of channels formed into the second face, where the single substrate is configured to maintain separation of gases between the first set of channels and the second set of channels, and iv) a heat transfer appendage that a) includes a portion arranged external to the fuel cell stack and b) is in conductive thermal communication with an internal portion of the fuel cell stack; and plumbing configured to transport a heating medium from the fuel processor to the fuel cell, wherein the bi-polar plate is configured to receive heat provided to the fuel cell using the heating medium at the externally arranged heat transfer appendage and configured to conduct the heat to the internal portion of the fuel cell stack.