Patent ID: 7276306

Claim:
A system comprising: at least one fuel cell for generating electricity, wherein each fuel cell of said at least one fuel cell comprises a fuel cell anode, a fuel cell cathode and a fuel cell electrolyte membrane fixedly connected to and between said fuel cell anode and said fuel cell cathode; means for providing oxygen to said fuel cell cathode; means for providing fuel to said fuel cell anode, wherein at least one fuel cell anode of said at least one fuel cell produces fuel cell effluent that comprises fuel cell anode non-oxidized fuel; at least one fuel-assisted electrolyzer for generating hydrogen and steam, wherein each fuel-assisted electrolyzer of said least one fuel-assisted electrolyzer comprises an electrolyzer anode, an electrolyzer cathode and an electrolyzer electrolyte membrane fixedly connect to and between said electrolyzer anode and said electrolyzer cathode; means for providing said fuel cell anode non-oxidized fuel to at least one electrolyzer anode of said at least one fuel-assisted electrolyzer; and means for providing said electricity to said one or more fuel-assisted electrolyzers of said at least one fuel-assisted electrolyzer.