Patent ID: 7851098

Claim:
A reformer fuel cell system, comprising a plurality of components having an operating temperature, said plurality of components comprising a plurality of partial reformer systems and a fuel cell; said plurality of partial reformer systems forming a reformer for generating a hydrogen-rich gas from a primary fuel; and said fuel cell generating an electric current by using the hydrogen-rich gas; wherein said reformer fuel cell system further comprises: a burner device arranged outside of said reformer and said fuel cell, wherein said burner device generates a hot exhaust gas for heating at least one of said plurality of partial reformer systems and for heating said fuel cell; an exhaust gas supply assembly for supplying the exhaust gas to at least two of said plurality of components, said at least two components being at least one of the partial reformer systems and said fuel cell; wherein the exhaust gas supply assembly defines a flow path of the exhaust gas such that the exhaust gas flows to and/or through at least one of said plurality of components comprising said plurality of partial reformer systems and said fuel cell according to the level of the particular operating temperature of said plurality of components in descending temperature order.