Patent ID: 8257879

Claim:
A fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell stack having a first end and second end, the stack comprising at least one fuel cell having a membrane-electrode assembly disposed between two of a plurality of gas diffusion layers; a first end unit disposed adjacent the first end of the fuel cell stack; a second end unit disposed adjacent the second end of the fuel cell stack; a first sheet metal layer disposed at the first end and adjacent the first end unit, the first end unit disposed between the first sheet metal layer and the fuel cell stack, wherein the first sheet metal layer includes an aperture to the first end unit that is circumscribed by the first sheet metal layer; a second sheet metal layer disposed at the second end and adjacent the second end unit, the second end unit disposed between the second sheet metal layer and the fuel cell stack; and a compression retention system including a plurality of compliant straps adapted to stretch the first sheet metal layer over the first end unit and the second sheet metal layer over the second end unit, and apply a compressive force to the first end unit, the fuel cell stack, and the second end unit, the plurality of compliant straps further adapted to accommodate an expansion of the fuel cell stack during an operation thereof and maintain the compressive force within a desired range, wherein the plurality of compliant straps is coupled to the first sheet metal layer and the second sheet metal layer.