Disclosed herein are three configurations for an electrochemical cell to generate electric power from the reaction of oxygen or air with porous plates or particulates of carbon, arranged such that waste heat from said electrochemical cells is allowed to flow upwards through a storage chamber or port containing raw carbonaceous fuel. These configurations allow combining the separate processes of devolatilization, pyrolysis and electrochemical conversion of carbon to electric power into a single unit process, fed with raw fuel and exhausting high BTU gases, electric power, and substantially pure CO2 during operation.