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A fuel cell system including a fuel reformer heated by a catalytic combustor fired by anode effluent and/or fuel from a liquid fuel supply providing fuel for the fuel cell. The combustor includes a vaporizer section heated by the combustor exhaust gases for vaporizing the fuel before feeding it into

A fuel cell system including a fuel reformer heated by a catalytic combustor fired by anode effluent and/or fuel from a liquid fuel supply providing fuel for the fuel cell. The combustor includes a vaporizer section heated by the combustor exhaust gases for vaporizing the fuel before feeding it into the combustor. Cathode effluent is used as the principle oxidant for the combustor.

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[ What is claimed is:] [1.] In a fuel cell system comprising (a) a stack of H.sub.2 --O.sub.2 fuel cells discharging an H.sub.2 -containing anode effluent and an O.sub.2 -containing cathode effluent, (b) a reformer for converting a hydrogen-containing fuel selected from the group consisting of alcoh

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] In a fuel cell system comprising (a) a stack of H.sub.2 --O.sub.2 fuel cells discharging an H.sub.2 -containing anode effluent and an O.sub.2 -containing cathode effluent, (b) a reformer for converting a hydrogen-containing fuel selected from the group consisting of alcohols and hydrocarbons to H.sub.2 for fueling said cells, (c) a first heat exchanger operatively associated with said reformer for heating said reformer, and (d) a combustor providing hot exhaust gas to said first heat exchanger for heating said reformer during the reformation process, the improvement comprising:said combustor being fueled by said fuel and said anode effluent and comprising a housing having an input end adapted to receive said fuel and said anode effluent, an exhaust end emitting hot combustor exhaust gas to said first heat exchanger, and a catalyst bed intermediate said input and exhaust ends for burning said fuel and said anode effluent to generate said combustor exhaust gas;a second heat exchanger in said exhaust end of said combustor and exposed to said hot exhaust gas for vaporizing said fuel when said combustor is operating under post-startup conditions, said second heat exchanger having an inlet for receiving said fuel as a liquid, and an outlet for discharging said fuel as a vapor;a first conduit communicating said outlet with said input end of said combustor; anda second conduit communicating said stack with said input end of said combustor to convey said anode effluent to said combustor.