Patent ID: 7118818

Claim:
A solid oxide fuel cell system comprising a solid oxide fuel cell stack and a gas turbine engine, the solid oxide fuel cell stack comprising at least one solid oxide fuel cell, each solid oxide fuel cell comprising an electrolyte, an anode and a cathode, the gas turbine engine comprising a compressor and a turbine arranged to drive the compressor, the compressor being arranged to supply oxidant to the cathode of the at least one solid oxide fuel cell, means to supply fuel to the anode of the at least one solid oxide fuel cell, means to supply at least a portion of the unused oxidant from the at least one solid oxide fuel cell to the cathode of the at least one solid oxide fuel cell, the means to supply at least a portion of the unused oxidant comprising a combustor, the combustor being arranged to burn at least a portion of the unused fuel from the at least one solid oxide fuel cell in the at least a portion of the unused oxidant from the at least one solid oxide fuel cell and being arranged to supply the products of the combustor to the oxidant supplied by the compressor to the cathode of the at least one solid oxide fuel cell to preheat the oxidant supplied by the compressor.