Abstract: A fuel cell stack including a plurality of fuel cells, each end of the fuel cell stack having a heater plate disposed between a current collector plate and an end plate, each heater plate being thermally insulated from a respective end plate, wherein each heater plate comprises a heating element in the form of an electrically conductive track; and, wherein the heater plate comprises a pair of terminals extending from an edge of the heater plate, the terminals being separated by an air gap.

Abstract: A method of starting operation of a fuel cell system which includes at least a fuel cell stack the method includes opening an anode inlet valve to allow fuel to enter an anode volume of the fuel cell stack; then operating an air compressor in fluid communication with a cathode air inlet of the fuel cell stack to allow air to enter a cathode volume of the fuel cell stack monitoring the temperature of the cathode inlet and/or outlet operating a water injection system to inject water into the cathode volume once the temperature of fluid passing through the cathode inlet and/or outlet exceeds a preset level, wherein a current drawn from the fuel cell stack is limited to prevent a voltage measured across one or more cells in the fuel cell stack from falling below a first voltage threshold.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a fuel cell system comprising a fuel cell stack and an electrical control unit configured to adjust operating parameters of the fuel cell stack to optimize operation of the fuel cell system based on a standard deviation of voltage outputs from a plurality of cells in the fuel cell stack.

Abstract: A method of starting operation of a fuel cell system which includes at least a fuel cell stack the method includes opening an anode inlet valve to allow fuel to enter an anode volume of the fuel cell stack; then operating an air compressor in fluid communication with a cathode air inlet of the fuel cell stack to allow air to enter a cathode volume of the fuel cell stack monitoring the temperature of the cathode inlet and/or outlet operating a water injection system to inject water into the cathode volume once the temperature of fluid passing through the cathode inlet and/or outlet exceeds a preset level, wherein a current drawn from the fuel cell stack is limited to prevent a voltage measured across one or more cells in the fuel cell stack from falling below a first voltage threshold.

Abstract: An electrochemical fuel cell having an anode, an ion transfer membrane and a cathode has liquid water delivered to the fluid flow channels within the cathode so as to maintain a relative humidity of 100% throughout the fluid flow channels. A calibration method and apparatus is described for determining an optimum quantity or range of quantities of liquid water to be delivered to the cathode fluid flow channels under varying operating conditions. An operating method and apparatus is described that ensures an optimum quantity of liquid water is delivered to the cathode fluid flow channels under varying operating conditions.

Abstract: An electrochemical fuel cell having an anode, an ion transfer membrane and a cathode has liquid water delivered to the fluid flow channels within the cathode so as to maintain a relative humidity of 100% throughout the fluid flow channels. A calibration method and apparatus is described for determining an optimum quantity or range of quantities of liquid water to be delivered to the cathode fluid flow channels under varying operating conditions. An operating method and apparatus is described that ensures an optimum quantity of liquid water is delivered to the cathode fluid flow channels under varying operating conditions.

Abstract: A method of starting operation of a fuel cell system which includes at least a fuel cell stack. the method includes opening an anode inlet valve to allow fuel to enter an anode volume of the fuel cell stack; then operating an air compressor in fluid communication with a cathode air inlet of the fuel cell stack to allow air to enter a cathode volume of the fuel cell stack; monitoring the temperature of the cathode inlet and/or outlet and operating a water injection system to inject water into the cathode volume once the temperature of fluid passing through the cathode inlet and/or outlet exceeds a preset level, wherein a current drawn from the fuel cell stack is limited to prevent a voltage measured across one or more cells in the fuel cell stack from falling below a first voltage threshold.

Abstract: An electrochemical fuel cell having an anode, an ion transfer membrane and a cathode has liquid water delivered to the fluid flow channels within the cathode so as to maintain a relative humidity of 100% throughout the fluid flow channels. A calibration method and apparatus is described for determining an optimum quantity or range of quantities of liquid water to be delivered to the cathode fluid flow channels under varying operating conditions. An operating method and apparatus is described that ensures an optimum quantity of liquid water is delivered to the cathode fluid flow channels under varying operating conditions.