OXYGEN-FED FUEL CELL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USING SAME

A fuel cell system includes hydrogen and oxygen storage vessels, a fuel cell stack, an air feed, an oxygen feed creating an internal oxygen pressure, at least one cathode and at least one cathode exhaust. The system can alternate between the air feed and/or the oxygen feed to the cathode of the fuel cell with air operation at lower power draw conditions and oxygen operation at higher power draw conditions. Oxygen may be recirculated from the cathode exhaust at a rate higher than stoichiometric and internal oxygen pressure may rise to above 1.1 bar. An automated control system can recirculate oxygen after air is expelled from the fuel cell stack, and there may be a recirculation of cathode exhaust, particularly a recirculation of oxygen exhaust. The fuel cell may be configured having ports with removeable connections for refilling the hydrogen storage vessel and the oxygen storage vessel.