Purged anode, low effluent fuel cell

A fuel cell system for supplying electric power, comprising: an electrolyte (8); a cathode catalyst (20) disposed between a cathode substrate (18) and said electrolyte (8) on one side of said electrolyte (8); an anode catalyst (12) disposed between an anode substrate (10) and said electrolyte (8) on the opposite side of said electrolyte (8); a cathode flow field (16) for flowing oxidant in contact with said cathode, said cathode flow field (16) being vented to permit release of exhaust (55) therefrom; an oxidant pump (30) providing oxidant to said cathode flow field (16); an anode flow field (16') for allowing a stream of hydrogen to contact said anode, said anode flow field (16') having an exhaust; a source (22) for providing hydrogen to said anode flow field (16'); and an anode flow field exhaust line (50) connecting the exhaust of said anode flow field (16') to the oxidant stream inlet (32) to said cathode flow field (16).