A fuel cell stack alignment system includes an alignment guide bar for positioning a plurality of stack components. Each of the stack components has an alignment slot and a spacing slot. A first alignment portion and a second alignment portion of the alignment guide bar has a shape that is complimentary to the shape of the alignment slot of each of the stack components. Abutting engagement between one of the first or second alignment portions and the alignment slot aligns each respective stack component in a respective assembly position. The other of the first and second alignment portions of each respective stack component is disposed within the spacing slot. The spacing slot has a shape that is larger than the first and second alignment portions, to provide a gap between the stack components and the alignment guide bar.

A fuel cell stack alignment system includes an alignment guide bar for positioning a plurality of stack components. Each of the stack components has an alignment slot and a spacing slot. A first alignment portion and a second alignment portion of the alignment guide bar has a shape that is complimentary to the shape of the alignment slot of each of the stack components. Abutting engagement between one of the first or second alignment portions and the alignment slot aligns each respective stack component in a respective assembly position. The other of the first and second alignment portions of each respective stack component is disposed within the spacing slot. The spacing slot has a shape that is larger than the first and second alignment portions, to provide a gap between the stack components and the alignment guide bar.

A fuel cell stack (100) includes a first supporting substrate (5a), a first power generation element, a second power generation element, a second supporting substrate (5b) and a communicating member (3). The first supporting substrate (5a) includes a first substrate main portion, a first dense layer, and a first gas flow passage. The first dense layer covers the first substrate main portion. The second supporting substrate (5b) includes a second substrate main portion, a second dense layer, and a second gas flow passage. The second dense layer covers the second substrate main portion. The communicating member (3) extends between a distal end portion (502a) of the first supporting substrate (5a) and a distal end portion (502b) of the second supporting substrate (5b) and communicates between the first gas flow passage and the second gas flow passage.

A fuel cell stack (100) includes a first supporting substrate (5a), a first power generation element, a second power generation element, a second supporting substrate (5b) and a communicating member (3). The first supporting substrate (5a) includes a first substrate main portion, a first dense layer, and a first gas flow passage. The first dense layer covers the first substrate main portion. The second supporting substrate (5b) includes a second substrate main portion, a second dense layer, and a second gas flow passage. The second dense layer covers the second substrate main portion. The communicating member (3) extends between a distal end portion (502a) of the first supporting substrate (5a) and a distal end portion (502b) of the second supporting substrate (5b) and communicates between the first gas flow passage and the second gas flow passage.

A fuel cell stack includes a cell stack body including a plurality of stacked power generation cells together. A metal plate and an elastic seal member are overlapped with each other at a position facing a bead seal formed on an end metal separator. A support member includes a recess accommodating the metal plate. A gap is provided between an inner peripheral end of the metal plate and the recess, or between an outer peripheral end of the metal plate and the recess, for absorbing thermal expansion difference between the metal plate and the support member.

A fuel cell vehicle is equipped with a mounting bracket disposed with respect to an end plate. The end plate extends in a transverse direction which is perpendicular to a stacking direction and a vertical direction of a cell stack. In addition, the bracket is disposed near one end in the transverse direction of the end plate and at a portion on a lower side thereof, together with being formed in a triangular shape when viewed from the stacking direction.

A bipolar plate (20) for making a proton-exchange membrane fuel cell stack, said bipolar plate (20) being made up of metal sheets that are shaped and assembled together in such a manner as to define primary fluid-flow channels (24) and secondary fluid-flow channels (25) that are arranged in alternation, said primary channels (24) being formed between said assembled-together sheets; the bipolar plate (20) being characterized in that it includes mechanical reinforcement (35) made out of metal material arranged in a reinforcing duct (30) of the bipolar plate (20), said metal reinforcement (35) being configured in such a manner as to oppose a compression force applied to the bipolar plate (20), said bipolar plate (20) further including a source of electricity adapted to feed electric current to the mechanical reinforcement (35) and thereby give off heat by the Joule effect.

A bipolar plate (20) for making a proton-exchange membrane fuel cell stack, said bipolar plate (20) being made up of metal sheets that are shaped and assembled together in such a manner as to define primary fluid-flow channels (24) and secondary fluid-flow channels (25) that are arranged in alternation, said primary channels (24) being formed between said assembled-together sheets; the bipolar plate (20) being characterized in that it includes mechanical reinforcement (35) made out of metal material arranged in a reinforcing duct (30) of the bipolar plate (20), said metal reinforcement (35) being configured in such a manner as to oppose a compression force applied to the bipolar plate (20), said bipolar plate (20) further including a source of electricity adapted to feed electric current to the mechanical reinforcement (35) and thereby give off heat by the Joule effect.

There is provided a frame for a fuel cell. The frame include a frame body having a channel opening defined therein and a feed opening and a discharge opening defined therein, wherein the feed opening and discharge opening are spaced apart from each other with the channel opening being disposed therebetween; and a plurality of anti-deformation support structures protruding from a top face of the frame body, in a first region between the channel opening and the feed opening and in a second region between the channel opening and the discharge opening, wherein each of the plurality of anti-deformation support structures has an elliptical cross-sectional shape having a major axis and a minor axis.

There is provided a frame for a fuel cell. The frame include a frame body having a channel opening defined therein and a feed opening and a discharge opening defined therein, wherein the feed opening and discharge opening are spaced apart from each other with the channel opening being disposed therebetween; and a plurality of anti-deformation support structures protruding from a top face of the frame body, in a first region between the channel opening and the feed opening and in a second region between the channel opening and the discharge opening, wherein each of the plurality of anti-deformation support structures has an elliptical cross-sectional shape having a major axis and a minor axis.