Protective reformer device for the protection of an anode section of a fuel cell stack

A protective reformer device for the protection of an anode section of a fuel cell stack against oxidising 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;

• wherein the temperature control device is designed at least partially as a heat exchanger, wherein the gas duct forms a first heat exchanger side of the heat exchanger;
• wherein the second heat exchanger side of the heat exchanger is formed at least partially by a cathode feed section of the fuel cell stack.