A cell stack including; a stacked body including a plurality of cell frames each having a bipolar plate whose outer periphery is supported by a frame member; and a pair of end plates that tighten the stacked body from both sides of a stacking direction thereof, wherein an area S [cm.sup.2] of each cell frame as viewed from the stacking direction of the stacked body and a length W [mm] in the stacking direction of the stacked body satisfies a relationship 0.05≤W/S≤0.9.

A cell stack including; a stacked body including a plurality of cell frames each having a bipolar plate whose outer periphery is supported by a frame member; and a pair of end plates that tighten the stacked body from both sides of a stacking direction thereof, wherein an area S [cm.sup.2] of each cell frame as viewed from the stacking direction of the stacked body and a length W [mm] in the stacking direction of the stacked body satisfies a relationship 0.05≤W/S≤0.9.

An alignment dowel comprises a body extending along a longitudinal axis, the body comprising a plurality of resilient vanes that extend generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and an actuator portion. The stack has openings of a predetermined diameter. The vanes are arranged around the longitudinal axis so as to extend along the axis and project radially outwards to define an outer diameter of the body. The actuator portion is operable to move the vanes between a collapsed configuration in which the outer diameter is smaller than the predetermined diameter, and an expanded configuration in which the outer diameter of the body is greater than in the collapsed configuration. A stack assembly jig, comprises a tool base on which a stack of components can be positioned. The tool base has guide holes that are no smaller than the predetermined diameter and are positioned to correspond to the position of the openings in the stack. A base plate carries an array of alignment dowels arranged to correspond to the positions of the guide holes. The base plate is moveable relative to the tool base such that the alignment dowels can project through the guide holes and into the component openings. The actuators are operable to align the components in the stack. A method for aligning components of a cell stack using an alignment dowel, comprises arranging cells adjacent one another in a stack, wherein the cells have internal alignment features, wherein each alignment feature includes an engaging surface with which the alignment dowel is configured to engage and disengage when located within said alignment feature; and locating the alignment dowel in the alignment features in the collapsed configuration and operating the actuator to move the alignment dowel to the expanded configuration to align the cells.

An alignment dowel comprises a body extending along a longitudinal axis, the body comprising a plurality of resilient vanes that extend generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and an actuator portion. The stack has openings of a predetermined diameter. The vanes are arranged around the longitudinal axis so as to extend along the axis and project radially outwards to define an outer diameter of the body. The actuator portion is operable to move the vanes between a collapsed configuration in which the outer diameter is smaller than the predetermined diameter, and an expanded configuration in which the outer diameter of the body is greater than in the collapsed configuration. A stack assembly jig, comprises a tool base on which a stack of components can be positioned. The tool base has guide holes that are no smaller than the predetermined diameter and are positioned to correspond to the position of the openings in the stack. A base plate carries an array of alignment dowels arranged to correspond to the positions of the guide holes. The base plate is moveable relative to the tool base such that the alignment dowels can project through the guide holes and into the component openings. The actuators are operable to align the components in the stack. A method for aligning components of a cell stack using an alignment dowel, comprises arranging cells adjacent one another in a stack, wherein the cells have internal alignment features, wherein each alignment feature includes an engaging surface with which the alignment dowel is configured to engage and disengage when located within said alignment feature; and locating the alignment dowel in the alignment features in the collapsed configuration and operating the actuator to move the alignment dowel to the expanded configuration to align the cells.

The present invention aims to reduce a failure in a fuel cell module and reduce manufacturing costs by specifying and taking countermeasures against cells in short-circuit failure from among fuel cells manufactured on a substrate by using a thin-film deposition process. In a fuel cell array according to the present invention, each fuel cell includes a solid electrolyte layer between a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer. A first wiring is connected to the second electrode layer, and a second wiring is connected to the first electrode layer through a connection element. The connection element is formed by sandwiching a conductive layer between two electrodes (refer to FIG. 8).

The present invention aims to reduce a failure in a fuel cell module and reduce manufacturing costs by specifying and taking countermeasures against cells in short-circuit failure from among fuel cells manufactured on a substrate by using a thin-film deposition process. In a fuel cell array according to the present invention, each fuel cell includes a solid electrolyte layer between a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer. A first wiring is connected to the second electrode layer, and a second wiring is connected to the first electrode layer through a connection element. The connection element is formed by sandwiching a conductive layer between two electrodes (refer to FIG. 8).

An embodiment fuel cell system includes a fuel cell enclosure configured to output electrical energy generated by a fuel cell stack through a stack bus bar, a high-voltage box disposed on the fuel cell enclosure, the high-voltage box including an air inlet port formed at one side thereof, the air inlet port being configured to introduce cold air from outside, and a terminal block assembly including a vent port connected to the fuel cell enclosure, the vent port being configured to deliver the cold air introduced through the air inlet port to the stack bus bar.

An embodiment fuel cell system includes a fuel cell enclosure configured to output electrical energy generated by a fuel cell stack through a stack bus bar, a high-voltage box disposed on the fuel cell enclosure, the high-voltage box including an air inlet port formed at one side thereof, the air inlet port being configured to introduce cold air from outside, and a terminal block assembly including a vent port connected to the fuel cell enclosure, the vent port being configured to deliver the cold air introduced through the air inlet port to the stack bus bar.

A cell stack device includes a cell stack and an end current collector. The cell stack includes a plurality of cells arrayed therein. The end current collector is located in an end portion of the cell stack in an array direction of the plurality of cells. The end current collector includes a surface exposed to an oxidizing atmosphere covered with a covering material including manganese and a surface exposed to a reducing atmosphere covered with a film different from the covering material.

The present invention provides fuel cell stacks comprising effective means to maintain the fuel cell stacks at a constant temperature using plates mated to at least one face of the stack and in contact with the edges of the repeat and non-repeat layers while making use of the phase change of working-fluids such as water or water-organic species mixtures for heat transfer. Also provided are processes for maintaining said fuel cell stacks at a constant temperature by adjusting the flow rate and pressure of the cooling fluid so that both liquid and vapor are present at the same time.