Abstract: A fuel cell stack assembly has a plurality of cells in a stack configuration. Each cell comprises a membrane-electrode assembly disposed between an anode flow plate and a cathode flow plate. A current collector plate is disposed at each end of the stack and a compression assembly maintains the stack under compression. At least one of the current collector plates is formed as a printed circuit board having a first face disposed against a cathode flow plate or an anode flow plate of an outermost cell in the stack and a second face opposite the first face. The first face includes an electrically conductive layer disposed on a substrate of the printed circuit board to serve as a stack current collector electrode. Electrical components such as temperature sensors can be mounted on the printed circuit board such that they lie in or adjacent to a flow channel extending along an adjacent face of the anode or cathode flow plate.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack assembly comprising an electrical connection system for cell voltage monitoring is described. The fuel cell stack (80) has a plurality of fuel cells disposed in a stacked configuration, each cell having a membrane-electrode assembly (MEA) sandwiched between an anode flow field plate and a cathode flow field plate. The flow field plates (21) each extend to a lateral face of the fuel cell stack and each has an exposed portion generally coplanar with the lateral face of the fuel cell stack surface. A connector assembly has an array of contacts (83) each configured to bias against, and form electrical contact with, a respective one of selected flow field plates (21) at a contact zone thereof and each contact is biased against its respective flow plate (21) in a direction in the plane of the respective flow field plate. The exposed portion may be an exposed edge of the respective flow field plate and each contact is biased against the exposed edge of its respective flow plate.

Abstract: A fuel cell stack assembly has a plurality of cells in a stack configuration. Each cell comprises a membrane-electrode assembly disposed between an anode flow plate and a cathode flow plate. A current collector plate is disposed at each end of the stack and a compression assembly maintains the stack under compression. At least one of the current collector plates is formed as a printed circuit board having a first face disposed against a cathode flow plate or an anode flow plate of an outermost cell in the stack and a second face opposite the first face. The first face includes an electrically conductive layer disposed on a substrate of the printed circuit board to serve as a stack current collector electrode. Electrical components such as temperature sensors can be mounted on the printed circuit board such that they lie in or adjacent to a flow channel extending along an adjacent face of the anode or cathode flow plate.