Fuel cell system configured to operate in cold conditions and method of operating the same

A fuel cell system, comprising:

• a stack of fuel cells;
• an anode exhaust cooler configured to heat an air inlet stream using heat extracted from an anode exhaust stream output from the stack;
• a first air conduit fluidly connected to an air inlet of the anode exhaust cooler and configured to provide an air inlet stream to the anode exhaust cooler;
• a second air conduit connected to an air outlet of the anode exhaust cooler and configured to receive a heated air inlet stream output from the anode exhaust cooler and to provide the heated air inlet stream into the stack;
• a first anode exhaust conduit fluidly connecting an anode exhaust outlet of the stack to an anode exhaust inlet of the anode exhaust cooler;
• a second anode exhaust conduit fluidly connecting an anode exhaust outlet of the anode exhaust cooler to a fuel inlet of the stack;
• and
• at least one component configured to maintain a temperature of an anode exhaust stream exiting the anode exhaust cooler into the second anode exhaust conduit at a temperature above 100° C.