METHOD FOR PREPARING STANDBY GAS FOR A FUEL CELL ARRANGEMENT

A method is described for providing standby gas for a fuel cell arrangement, and the corresponding fuel cell arrangement itself is described. According to the invention, it is provided that a combustible gas is mixed with air or another oxygen-containing gas to form a first mixture and is guided through a first catalyst device (7, 8), the standby gas being obtained while converting the oxygen fraction of the first gas mixture to carbon dioxide and water vapor and while converting constituents of water vapor and higher hydrocarbons contained in the gas mixture to methane and hydrogen. The combustible gas is preferably mixed with air or another oxygen-containing gas to form a first mixture (5) and is guided at a defined first temperature through a first catalyst (7), a second gas mixture being obtained while converting the oxygen fraction of the first gas mixture to carbon dioxide and water vapor. The second gas mixture is guided at a defined second temperature through a second catalyst (8), the standby gas being obtained while converting constituents of water vapor and higher hydrocarbons contained in the gas mixture to methane and hydrogen.