Fuel cell installation and associated operating method

A fuel cell installation, comprising:

• at least one fuel cell stack of DMFC fuel cells operated with a methanol/water mixture at an operating temperature between 100° C. and 300° C.;
• process-medium supply lines of an operating circuit connected to said fuel cell stack;
• an evaporator connected upstream of said fuel cell stack in a flow direction for evaporating the methanol/water mixture;
• and
• a condenser connected to said fuel cell stack for condensing at least water out of an off gas selected from the group consisting of an anode off gas and a cathode off gas;
• and
• a feedback for recycling condensate water into the operating circuit.

A method of operating a fuel cell installation having a fuel cell stack of DMFC fuel cells operated with evaporated methanol/water mixture and having an evaporator connected upstream thereof, the method which comprises:

• operating the fuel cell stack in an operating temperature range between 100° C. and 300° C. with evaporated methanol/water mixture;
• introducing fuel cell off gases at the operating temperature of the fuel cell stack into a condenser for recovering at least one of water and methanol;
• and
• recovering useful components of the off gases.