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Removal of waste heat from a fuel cell is necessary for continuous operation. Evaporation, can be used to remove the heat produced by the exothermic reaction within the fuel cell. Water sprayed into a gaseous fuel stream is evaporated in an evaporative cooler adjacent to the fuel cell. The fuel/stea

Removal of waste heat from a fuel cell is necessary for continuous operation. Evaporation, can be used to remove the heat produced by the exothermic reaction within the fuel cell. Water sprayed into a gaseous fuel stream is evaporated in an evaporative cooler adjacent to the fuel cell. The fuel/steam stream can then be utilized in the various other fuel cell system operations.

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In a method of operating a fuel cell system, said system having a fuel stream, water, fuel, air, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, a hydro desulfurizer, a reformer, a low temperature shift converter, an evaporative cooler, means for heating, a contact cooler, a condenser, an exhaust, a fuel cell, sai

In a method of operating a fuel cell system, said system having a fuel stream, water, fuel, air, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, a hydro desulfurizer, a reformer, a low temperature shift converter, an evaporative cooler, means for heating, a contact cooler, a condenser, an exhaust, a fuel cell, said fuel cell having an anode chamber and a cathode chamber, which comprises: a. preheating stream; b. desulfurizing the fuel stream; c. spraying water into the fuel stream to form mist; d. evaporating the water into the fuel stream using an evaporative cooler, wherein the stream becomes a fuel/steam stream; e. using a condenser to condense excess steam out of the fuel/steam stream; f. pre-heating the fuel/steam stream; g. using a reformer to produce hydrogen, wherein the fuel/steam stream is introduced to the reformer where the fuel and steam react such that hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide are among the products; h. using a low temperature shift converter to react the steam and the carbon monoxide, wherein hydrogen and carbon dioxide are among the products; i. introducing the fuel stream to the anode chamber of the fuel cell as air is simultaneously introduced to the cathode chamber, wherein the reaction which occurs depletes the fuel/steam of hydrogen; j. burning the remaining hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and fuel out of the fuel/steam stream, wherein the fuel/steam stream becomes essentially steam and carbon dioxide. k. using a contact cooler to condense the steam out of the fuel/steam stream, wherein the water is recycled and the carbon dioxide is released through an exhaust.