Fuel cell system for generating electricity and heat as well as a method for operating the fuel cell system

摘要

The invention relates to a fuel cell system which has a fuel cell with an anodic reaction area and a cathodic reaction area, a gaseous fuel, preferably hydrogen, being supplied to the anodic reaction area and anodic exhaust gas being discharged, and oxygen-containing ambient air being supplied to the cathodic reaction area and cathodic exhaust gas being discharged . Furthermore, the fuel cell system has an oxygen depletion reactor in which anodic exhaust gas and at least a partial flow of the cathodic exhaust gas are brought together. The oxygen depletion reactor comprises a catalyst which catalyzes a reaction of oxygen contained in the cathodic exhaust gas and hydrogen contained in the anodic exhaust gas with the formation of an oxygen-reduced exhaust gas mixture containing water vapor. Furthermore, the fuel cell system has a burner for burning exhaust gases from the fuel cell and feedable gaseous fuel, cathodic exhaust gas and water vapor-containing, oxygen-reduced exhaust gas mixture from the oxygen depletion reactor being feedable to the burner.