Integrated power generation and carbon capture using fuel cells

A method for capturing carbon dioxide from a combustion source, the method comprising:

• introducing a fuel stream and an O2-containing stream into a combustion zone;
• performing a combustion reaction in the combustion zone to generate a combustion exhaust, the combustion exhaust comprising CO2;
• processing a cathode inlet stream, the cathode inlet stream comprising at least a first portion of the combustion exhaust, with a fuel cell array of one or more molten carbonate fuel cells to form a cathode exhaust stream from at least one cathode outlet of the fuel cell array, the one or more molten carbonate fuel cells comprising one or more fuel cell anodes and one or more fuel cell cathodes, the one or more molten carbonate fuel cells being operatively connected to the combustion zone through at least one cathode inlet;
• reacting carbonate from the one or more fuel cell cathodes with H2 within the one or more fuel cell anodes to produce electricity and an anode exhaust stream from at least one anode outlet of the fuel cell array, the anode exhaust steam comprising CO2 and H2;
• separating CO2 from the anode exhaust stream in one or more separation stages to form a CO2-depleted anode exhaust stream;
• passing at least a combustion-recycle portion of the CO2-depleted anode exhaust stream to the combustion zone;
• and
• recycling at least an anode-recycle portion of the CO2-depleted anode exhaust stream to the one or more fuel cell anodes,
• wherein a fuel utilization in the one or more fuel cell anodes is about 65% or less.