As mentioned above, the high operating temperature of the MCFC offers the possibility that it could operate directly on gaseous hydrocarbon fuels such as natural gas.
The natural gas would be reformed to produce hydrogen within the fuel cell itself.
The need for CO2 in the oxidant stream requires that CO2 from the spent anode gas be collected and mixed with the incoming air stream.
Before this can be done, any residual hydrogen in the spent fuel stream must be burned.
Future systems may incorporate membrane separators to remove the hydrogen for recirculation back to the fuel stream.