An embodiment air-cooled fuel cell includes a cell stack, an air inlet manifold configured to allow air to flow into the cell stack therethrough, an air outlet manifold configured to allow the air to flow out of the cell stack therethrough, and a manifold opening/closing controller disposed at the air inlet manifold or the air outlet manifold and configured to allow or interrupt inflow or outflow of the air based on an operation state of the cell stack.

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.

A fuel cell stack includes an insulating collar member provided in an end plate and screwed with a positioning pin, and a rotation restriction mechanism that restricts rotation of the collar member relative to the end plate in a screw tightening direction of the positioning pin. A method of assembling the fuel cell stack includes a screwing step and a stacking step. In the screwing step, rotation of the collar member relative to the end plate in the screw tightening direction of the positioning pin is restricted by the rotation restriction mechanism.

A fuel cell stack includes an insulating collar member provided in an end plate and screwed with a positioning pin, and a rotation restriction mechanism that restricts rotation of the collar member relative to the end plate in a screw tightening direction of the positioning pin. A method of assembling the fuel cell stack includes a screwing step and a stacking step. In the screwing step, rotation of the collar member relative to the end plate in the screw tightening direction of the positioning pin is restricted by the rotation restriction mechanism.

A fuel cell includes a cell stack in which multiple unit cells are stacked in a first direction, an enclosure enveloping the cell stack and including at least one opening to open at least one of the two end portions of the cell stack, first and second end plates respectively disposed at the two end portions of the cell stack, a clamping member clamping the unit cells, and a coupling screw coupling the clamping member to a target end plate among the first and second end plates. The target end plate includes a body, including a first internal surface facing the cell stack and an external surface, and a partition wall, spaced from the external surface in the first direction to form a gap. The coupling screw passes through the partition wall and couples the clamping member to the body via the gap.

A fuel cell includes a cell stack in which multiple unit cells are stacked in a first direction, an enclosure enveloping the cell stack and including at least one opening to open at least one of the two end portions of the cell stack, first and second end plates respectively disposed at the two end portions of the cell stack, a clamping member clamping the unit cells, and a coupling screw coupling the clamping member to a target end plate among the first and second end plates. The target end plate includes a body, including a first internal surface facing the cell stack and an external surface, and a partition wall, spaced from the external surface in the first direction to form a gap. The coupling screw passes through the partition wall and couples the clamping member to the body via the gap.

A separator assembly for a fuel cell able to prevent deformation of a separator due to a flow pressure of a reaction gas at a first reaction gas inlet, and a fuel cell stack including the same includes: a first separator on one face of which is formed with a first reactive surface over which first reaction gas flows to allow for first reaction gas and second reaction gas to react and on the other face of which is formed with a first cooling surface where cooling occurs; a second separator on one face of which is formed a second reactive surface positioned to face the first reactive surface of the first separator, over which second reaction gas flows to allow for first reaction gas and second reaction gas to react, and on the other face of which is formed a second cooling surface where cooling occurs;, and a reinforcing plate which is positioned in a region of the first separator where first reaction gas enters, preventing deformation of the first separator.

A separator assembly for a fuel cell able to prevent deformation of a separator due to a flow pressure of a reaction gas at a first reaction gas inlet, and a fuel cell stack including the same includes: a first separator on one face of which is formed with a first reactive surface over which first reaction gas flows to allow for first reaction gas and second reaction gas to react and on the other face of which is formed with a first cooling surface where cooling occurs; a second separator on one face of which is formed a second reactive surface positioned to face the first reactive surface of the first separator, over which second reaction gas flows to allow for first reaction gas and second reaction gas to react, and on the other face of which is formed a second cooling surface where cooling occurs;, and a reinforcing plate which is positioned in a region of the first separator where first reaction gas enters, preventing deformation of the first separator.

There may be provided a fuel cell stack unit comprising: a first gas separating plate; a first sealing gasket; a metal support, an end cell, and an air inlet being formed in the outer peripheral side of the center portion; a second sealing gasket; and a second gas separating plate stacked on the lower side of the second sealing gasket, wherein air introduced from the air inlet of the first gas separating plate successively passes through the air inlets formed in the first sealing gasket, the metal support, and the second sealing gasket, respectively, and flows from one side of the end cell to the other side thereof along a stacking boundary between the lower side of the end cell and the upper side of the second gas separating plate; and the second sealing gasket is recessed inward from an edge of the second sealing gasket.

There may be provided a fuel cell stack unit comprising: a first gas separating plate; a first sealing gasket; a metal support, an end cell, and an air inlet being formed in the outer peripheral side of the center portion; a second sealing gasket; and a second gas separating plate stacked on the lower side of the second sealing gasket, wherein air introduced from the air inlet of the first gas separating plate successively passes through the air inlets formed in the first sealing gasket, the metal support, and the second sealing gasket, respectively, and flows from one side of the end cell to the other side thereof along a stacking boundary between the lower side of the end cell and the upper side of the second gas separating plate; and the second sealing gasket is recessed inward from an edge of the second sealing gasket.