PROTECTIVE REFORMER DEVICE FOR THE PROTECTION OF AN ANODE SECTION OF A FUEL CELL STACK

The present invention relates to a protective reformer device () for the protection of an anode section () of a fuel cell stack () against oxidizing damage during a heating-up process, having a gas duct () with a gas inlet () and a gas outlet () for conducting fuel gas from an anode feed section () of the fuel cell stack (), wherein a catalytic converter section () is arranged in the gas duct () for a catalytic oxidation of at least part of the fuel gas into a protective gas for feeding to the anode section (), wherein, furthermore, the gas duct () has a temperature control device () in thermally transmitting contact with the catalytic converter section () for an active temperature control of the catalytic converter section ().