Each of separator members of a fuel cell stack includes a cell voltage terminal protruding outward from an outer peripheral portion of a separator body. Each of the cell voltage terminals includes a plate shaped terminal, first protrusions, and second protrusions. At least some of the cell voltage terminals are arranged in a line in a stacking direction. In the cell voltage terminals facing each other in the stacking direction, the first protrusion of one of the cell voltage terminals and the second protrusion of the other of the cell voltage terminals face each other, and contact each other through an electrically insulating member.

A method for producing a bipolar plate for a fuel cell having a membrane electrode assembly comprises providing a first fuel cell half-plate, which has a circumferential plate edge which has a first media channel offset inwardly from the plate edge and also a first flow field, providing a second fuel cell half-plate, which has a plate edge corresponding to the plate edge of the first fuel cell half-plate, and which has a second media channel offset inwardly from its plate edge and also a second flow field, the second media channel being aligned with the first media channel when the two fuel cell half-plates are stacked one above the other in perfect alignment, and joining the first fuel cell half-plate to the second fuel cell half-plate along a media-channel joint line framing the media channels, wherein a joint-line-free sealing region of the fuel cell half-plates borders the plate edges, on which a seal is fixed or is to be fixed, and the first fuel cell half-plate is joined to the second fuel cell half-plate along an additional frame joint line adjoining the media channel joint line or overlapping same, at least some sections of said additional frame joint line being offset along the plate edges in relation to the sealing region.

A fuel cell includes a flow guide, a component for allowing a first fluid to flow from a first manifold to a second manifold and through a reactive zone, a peripheral seal disposed between the flow guide and the component, an intermediate seal disposed between the flow guide and the component, the intermediate seal being encircled by the peripheral seal and encircling the reactive zone, another component opposite the flow guide to allow a second fluid to flow from a third manifold to a fourth manifold and through another reactive zone, and a fluid flow circuit provided between the intermediate seal and the peripheral seal between fifth and sixth manifolds. One of the fifth and sixth manifolds is separated from the first to fourth manifolds by the intermediate seal.

A fuel cell includes a flow guide, a component for allowing a first fluid to flow from a first manifold to a second manifold and through a reactive zone, a peripheral seal disposed between the flow guide and the component, an intermediate seal disposed between the flow guide and the component, the intermediate seal being encircled by the peripheral seal and encircling the reactive zone, another component opposite the flow guide to allow a second fluid to flow from a third manifold to a fourth manifold and through another reactive zone, and a fluid flow circuit provided between the intermediate seal and the peripheral seal between fifth and sixth manifolds. One of the fifth and sixth manifolds is separated from the first to fourth manifolds by the intermediate seal.

A method for an assemble system that assembles insulation plates and mounting bars to a stack, includes moving the stack pressed by a stack pressing device to an outside thereof; attaching, a insulation plate attaching device, the insulation plates to the stack; attaching, by a mounting bar attaching device, the mounting bars that is configured to fix the insulation plates to the stack; and assembling, by a bolt assembling device, bolts configured to fix the mounting bars to the stack.

A method for an assemble system that assembles insulation plates and mounting bars to a stack, includes moving the stack pressed by a stack pressing device to an outside thereof; attaching, a insulation plate attaching device, the insulation plates to the stack; attaching, by a mounting bar attaching device, the mounting bars that is configured to fix the insulation plates to the stack; and assembling, by a bolt assembling device, bolts configured to fix the mounting bars to the stack.

In certain embodiments, an apparatus includes an electrolyte membrane layer (EML), and includes a first electrode catalyst layer (ECL) and a first metallic gas diffusion layer (MGDL) positioned to a first side of the EML such that the first ECL is positioned between the first MGDL and the EML. The first MGDL includes a metal-containing layer and a coating of porous material disposed on a surface of the metal-containing layer of the first MGDL that faces the first ECL. The apparatus further includes a second ECL and a second MGDL positioned to the second side of the EML such that the second ECL is positioned between the second MGDL and the EML. The second MGDL includes a metal-containing layer and a coating of porous material disposed on a surface of the metal-containing layer of the second MGDL that faces the second ECL.

Fuel cell unit (1) in the form of a fuel cell stack (1) for electrochemical generation of electrical energy, comprising fuel cells (2) having anodes, cathodes, proton-exchange membranes, gas diffusion layers and bipolar plates, the fuel cell unit (1) comprising at least one latent heat storage device (45) with a phase change material (46) to prevent water from freezing in the fuel cells (2) or delay such freezing

In an embodiment a cell-monitoring connector includes a housing including a lock portion corresponding to a groove portion defined by lock recesses stacked and overlapped in the first direction, wherein the lock recesses are formed in at least one of upper portions or lower portions of terminals protruding in a second direction, the second direction intersecting the first direction toward the cell-monitoring connector from side portions of separators included in the plurality of unit cells and a connector position assurance (CPA) including a lower portion configured to be inserted into the lock portion of the housing in a third direction and to be locked in the groove portion and an upper portion extending from the lower portion in the third direction, the upper portion having a top surface having an area larger than an area of the lower portion in a direction intersecting the third direction.

In an embodiment a cell-monitoring connector includes a housing including a lock portion corresponding to a groove portion defined by lock recesses stacked and overlapped in the first direction, wherein the lock recesses are formed in at least one of upper portions or lower portions of terminals protruding in a second direction, the second direction intersecting the first direction toward the cell-monitoring connector from side portions of separators included in the plurality of unit cells and a connector position assurance (CPA) including a lower portion configured to be inserted into the lock portion of the housing in a third direction and to be locked in the groove portion and an upper portion extending from the lower portion in the third direction, the upper portion having a top surface having an area larger than an area of the lower portion in a direction intersecting the third direction.