| CPC H01M 8/248 (2013.01) [H01M 8/021 (2013.01); H01M 8/1018 (2013.01); H01M 8/247 (2013.01); H01M 8/2475 (2013.01); Y02E 60/50 (2013.01)] | 5 Claims |

|
1. A method of assembling an enclosed fuel cell stack row including an enclosure and at least one solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack, each of the at least one solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack including a series stack of a plurality of solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells and a pair of end plates, the method comprising:
aligning the plurality of solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells and the pair of end plates at either end of the series stack in a jig;
compressing the aligned plurality of solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells and the pair of end plates at either end of the series stack in the jig to a fixed loading less than a nominal loading for operating the at least one solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack;
encircling the compressed and aligned plurality of solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells and the pair of end plates at either end of the series stack with at least one stack strap;
securing the at least one stack strap to form the at least one solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack;
inserting the at least one solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack in the enclosure; and
compressing the at least one solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack to the nominal loading.
|