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A fuel cell electric power generation system includes an electric power generation subsystem, a fuel processing subsystem including a furnace, an oxidant subsystem, a water circulation subsystem, and a temperature control subsystem. Interactions between the subsystems are simplified and component in

A fuel cell electric power generation system includes an electric power generation subsystem, a fuel processing subsystem including a furnace, an oxidant subsystem, a water circulation subsystem, and a temperature control subsystem. Interactions between the subsystems are simplified and component integration improves thermal and electrical efficiency of the system. In one embodiment, a reformer, a fuel stream humidifier and a heat exchanger are disposed within the furnace, with the humidifier outlet fluidly connected to the reformer inlet and the heat exchanger outlet fluidly connected to a desulfurizer located outside of the furnace. The fuel processing subsystem can also include a shift reactor that exchanges heat with a cathode exhaust stream directed to the shift reactor from the power generation subsystem. After passing through the shift reactor, the cathode exhaust stream is preferably directed to the furnace burner.

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1. A fuel cell electric power generation system comprising: (A) an electric power generation subsystem comprising at least one fuel cell which comprises a cathode, an anode, and an ion exchange membrane disposed therebetween, said anode having a catalyst associated therewith for producing electro

1. A fuel cell electric power generation system comprising: (A) an electric power generation subsystem comprising at least one fuel cell which comprises a cathode, an anode, and an ion exchange membrane disposed therebetween, said anode having a catalyst associated therewith for producing electrons and protons from a hydrogen-rich fuel stream, said cathode having a catalyst associated therewith for promoting the reaction of oxygen with said protons and electrons to form water and heat, and a cathode exhaust port associated with said cathode for exhausting a cathode exhaust stream comprising residual oxygen from said cathode; (B) a fuel processing subsystem for converting an inlet fuel stream into said hydrogen-rich fuel stream and directing said hydrogen-rich fuel stream to said anode; (C) an oxidant subsystem for pressurizing an inlet oxidant stream and directing a pressurized oxidant stream to said cathode; (D) a water circulation subsystem for circulating water within said fuel cell electric power generation system, said water circulation subsystem comprising: (1) a water reservoir for collecting recycled water and receiving makeup water; (2) a feedwater pump fed for pumping a first portion of circulation water from said water reservoir to a fuel stream humidifier and a second portion of said circulation water to an oxidant stream humidifier; (3) a first water recovery apparatus for recovering water from said oxidant stream humidifier; (4) a second water recovery apparatus for recovering water from at least one of said cathode exhaust stream and an anode exhaust stream; and (E) a temperature control subsystem fluidly isolated from said water circulation subsystem, said temperature control subsystem comprising: (1) a pump for circulating a temperature control fluid through said temperature control subsystem that comprises fluid passages within said electric power generation subsystem; (2) an indirect heat exchanger for exchanging heat between said temperature control fluid and said second portion of said circulation water; and (3) a temperature control subsystem heat exchanger for dissipating excess heat from said temperature control subsystem. 2. The fuel cell electric power generation system of claim 1 wherein said temperature control fluid is selected from the group consisting of mixtures comprising water and ethylene glycol, mixtures comprising water and propylene glycol, perfluorocarbon compounds, and electrically non-conductive oils. 3. The fuel cell electric power generation system of claim 2 wherein said temperature control subsystem further comprises a deionizing filter and fluid passages for directing said temperature control fluid through said deionizing filter for removing ions therefrom. 4. The fuel cell electric power generation system of claim 1 wherein said fuel processing subsystem further comprises: (1) a fuel compressor for increasing the pressure of said inlet fuel stream; and (2) a compressor cooling unit through which said temperature control fluid is directed to cool said fuel compressor. 5. The fuel cell electric power generation system of claim 4 wherein said cooling unit comprises a cooling jacket in thermal contact with said compressor through which said temperature control fluid is directed. 6. The fuel cell electric power generation system of claim 1 further comprising an anode precooler for transferring heat from said hydrogen-rich fuel stream to said temperature control fluid, before said hydrogen-rich fuel stream is directed to said anode. 7. The fuel cell electric power generation system of claim 1 further comprising a cogeneration heat exchanger associated with said temperature control subsystem for transferring thermal energy from said electrical power generation subsystem and directing said thermal energy to a cogeneration system external to said fuel cell electric power generation system.