Patent ID: 8057609

Claim:
A portable fuel cell device used to provide heat to an external application requiring heat, the device comprising: a catalytic oxidizer; means for delivering gaseous fuel and oxidizer to the catalytic oxidizer; and a fuel cell assembly comprising ceramic tubes provided in the form of microtube fuel cell bundles, the fuel cell assembly being located in the vicinity of the catalytic oxidizer such that the fuel cell assembly is able to be heated by heat generated from the reaction of fuel and oxidizer at the catalytic oxidizer; wherein the fuel cell assembly causes the generation of hot gases and an electrical output when it is heated and supplied with fuel and oxidizer; and wherein the device is provided with a heat outlet which allows hot gases generated by the device to be directed out of the device and to the external application requiring heat; and wherein the device comprises heat directing means that act to direct the hot gases flowing out from the heat outlet to the external application requiring heat.