Fuel cell stack assembly including heat sink inserts

A fuel cell column, comprising:

• a plurality of fuel cell stacks;
• at least one fuel manifold configured to provide fuel to the plurality of fuel cell stacks;
• and
• at least one heat sink insert located between adjacent fuel cell stacks of the plurality of fuel cell stacks, wherein:
• the adjacent fuel cell stacks comprise a first fuel cell stack located above a second fuel cell stack;
• the first fuel cell stack comprises a first end plate located at a bottom of the first fuel cell stack;
• the second fuel cell stack comprises a second end plate located at a top end of the second fuel cell stack, wherein the first end plate and the second end plate are composed of the same material;
• the at least one heat sink insert comprises a first heat sink insert which is located between the first end plate of the first fuel cell stack and the second end plate of the second fuel cell stack;
• the first heat sink insert has a first major surface that physically contacts the first end plate of the first fuel cell stack and a second major surface that physically contacts the second end plate of the second fuel cell stack;
• and
• the first heat sink insert has an open region comprising an internal opening within the first heat sink insert extending from a periphery of the heat sink insert to a central region of the heat sink insert.