Fuel Cell Stack and Power System

The stack also includes two half bipolar plates on each side along with end gaskets and end plates. The end plates are used to cover the ends of the stack, house the inlet and outlet ports of the reactant gas streams, interface with the current collectors, and provide the structural support for the stack against any compression loading. The current collector transmits the current from the active area of the MEA to the power cable of the external load circuit. 

The figure also shows an external network of return and supply manifolds for gas and coolant, and a return manifold for water. Each fuel cell stack uses an internal manifold to distribute reactant gases in parallel to all MEAs. 

Consider a 1-MW fuel cell stack operating at a temperature of 900°C with 

Fuel cell power generation system with multiple stack modules with inlet and exit manifolds for gas supply and water outflows, (a) 250 kW system with two 125 kW fuel cell stack module, (b) 2 MW power system with eight 250 kW fuel cell stack module, (c) 4 MW power system with an array of four 1 MW stack module. 

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