NOVELTY - A fuel is supplied to anode (12) of direct feed fuel cell (10) for oxidation of fuel to obtain oxidation product and electrons at anode. An oxidant is supplied to cathode (14) of fuel cell for reduction of oxidant to obtain reduction product. The output power of fuel cell is reduced at preset time intervals which is less than normal minimum output of fuel cell. Thus the performance of fuel cell is improved.    USE - For improving performance of direct feed fuel cell such as direct methanol fuel cell used in fuel cell assembly (claimed).    ADVANTAGE - The direct feed fuel cell has improved performance. The oxidation products such as carbon dioxide and intermediates produced at the anode are removed effectively. Water produced at the cathode is removed effectively. The crossover of the methanol oxidation products produced at the anode to the cathode is prevented.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A fuel is supplied to an anode comprising a carbon monoxide-tolerant catalyst of a direct feed fuel cell for oxidation of the fuel to obtain an oxidation product and electrons at the anode. An oxidant is supplied to a cathode of the fuel cell for reduction of the oxidant to obtain a reduction product. The output power of the fuel cell is reduced at predetermined time intervals which is less than normal minimum output of the fuel cell. Thus the performance of the fuel cell is improved. The fuel cell has a solid polymer electrolyte (16) and normally outputs power from minimum to maximum output.    INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for the following:    (1) A direct feed solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell which has the anode containing carbon monoxide-tolerant catalyst, the cathode, a fuel supply line (18) for supplying fuel to the anode, an oxidant supply line (20) for supplying oxidant to the cathode, an external electric circuit (22) connected to receive power from the fuel cell and a current controller for periodically reducing the flow of electric current in the external circuit; and    (2) A fuel cell assembly which has direct feed fuel cell stacks connected together in series for providing electric power to a load and a switching assembly for selectively disconnecting fuel cell stack(s) from the load when the remainder of the fuel cell stacks remain connected to the load.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows the diagrammatic illustration of the solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell connected to a load in an external circuit.    Direct feed fuel cell (10)    Anode (12)    Cathode (14)    Solid polymer electrolyte (16)    Fuel supply line (18)    Oxidant supply line (20)    External electric circuit (22)    Electric charge storage device (26)    Variable resistor (31)