Patent ID: 7998631

Claim:
A fuel cell stack comprising: a first fuel cell assembly comprising a first end plate assembly, the first end plate assembly having a first end plate cooling channel adapted to receive a coolant; a last fuel cell assembly comprising a last end plate assembly, the last end plate assembly having a last end plate cooling channel, wherein a first electrical potential is established between the first end plate and the last end plate; a connecting coolant channel in fluid communication with the first end plate cooling channel and the last end plate cooling channel; a coolant contained within the connecting coolant channel, the first end plate cooling channel, and a last end plate cooling channel; a coolant electrode positioned in the connecting coolant channel and contacting the coolant; and a voltage source in communication with the first end plate and the coolant electrode such that a second electrical potential between the coolant electrode and the first end plate is at a sufficient voltage to impede corrosion of the first end plate.