TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The system further comprises: a flow restriction in a flow path into the anode port and/or into the cathode port, or a flow restriction in an anode gas flow path (16) into the anode port, and/or in a flow path into the cathode port, so as to modify a ratio of anode gas flow to cathode gas flow; a flow restriction in the exit path, so as to modify a ratio of recirculation gas flow to cathode gas flow; a thermally coupling member in thermal communication with the pump and in thermal communication with the fuel cell; at least one flow sensor located in a flow path into the anode port and/or into the cathode port, and a control system in electrical communication with the flow sensor and the pump, where the flow sensor is configured to measure a gas flow and the control system is configured to modulate the pump in response to measured gas flow; and at least one check valve in a flow path into the pump inlet or pump outlet, configured so that the majority of gas passing through the valve is in one direction of flow. The anode gas comprises at least a fuel containing carbon and an oxidant containing oxygen, where the flow restriction is configured to provide a ratiometric mixture of fuel and oxidant so that for each carbon atom in the fuel there is supplied a number of oxygen atoms in the oxidant in a ratio, and the ratio is 0.5-2 oxygen atoms per carbon atom, preferably the ratio is less than 2 and greater than 1.025, 1.251 and 1.645 oxygen atoms per carbon atom at 850 degrees C, 720 degrees C, and 650 degrees C, respectively. The pump is configured to draw the anode gas into the anode port along the anode gas flow path, where the cathode port is coupled to ambient environment, and the anode gas flow path is coupled to at least a fuel source and the ambient environment. The flow restriction is a fixed orifice, a manually adjustable valve and/or an electrically adjustable valve. The thermally coupling member is a metal strip, a heat pipe, thermal grease, forced hot air and/or physical contact. The fuel cell is a solid oxide fuel cell. Preferred Method: The method further comprises: coupling the pump outlet to an exit path and a recirculation path, and additionally coupling the recirculation path to the anode gas flow path so that a portion of the anode gas comprises a portion of the exhaust gas supplied via the recirculation path; providing the flow restriction in the flow path into the anode port and/or into the cathode port; providing the thermally coupling member; providing the flow sensor; and providing the control system.