Fuel cell stack alignment system and method of assembling a fuel cell stack

A method of assembling a fuel cell stack, the method comprising:

• providing a plurality of stack components, with each of the plurality of stack components having a first edge defining a first alignment slot having a shape, and a first spacing slot having a shape;
• positioning one of a first alignment portion or a second alignment portion of a first alignment guide bar within the first alignment slot of each of the plurality of stack components, such that the other of the first alignment portion and the second alignment position of the first alignment guide bar is positioned within the first spacing slot;
• and
• wherein the shape of the first alignment portion and the second alignment portion of the first alignment guide bar is complimentary to the shape of the first alignment slot of each of the plurality of stack components such that abutting engagement between one of the first alignment portion or the second alignment portion of the first alignment guide bar and the first alignment slot aligns each respective stack component in a respective assembly position relative to the other of the plurality of stack components to form a stack, and
• wherein the shape of the first spacing slot of each of the plurality of stack components is larger than the shape of the first alignment portion and the shape of the second alignment portion of the first alignment guide bar to provide an air gap between each respective one of the plurality of stack components and the one of the first alignment portion and the second alignment portion of the first alignment guide bar positioned within the first spacing slot.

A fuel cell stack comprising:

• a plurality of stack components arranged relative to each other in an assembly position and secured together;
• wherein each of the plurality of stack components includes a first edge defining a first alignment slot having a shape, and a first spacing slot having a shape;
• a first reinforcing rib having a first reinforcing projection having a shape and a second reinforcing projection having a shape;
• wherein the shape of the first reinforcing projection and the shape of the second reinforcing projection of the first reinforcing rib are substantially identical to each other and are complimentary to the shape of the first alignment slot;
• and
• wherein the shape of the first spacing slot of each of the plurality of stack components is larger than the shape of the first reinforcing projection and the shape of the second reinforcing projection of the first reinforcing rib to provide an air-gap between the first reinforcing rib and the first spacing slot of each of the plurality of stack components.