VARIABLE LOAD FUEL CELL

1 . A fixture for mounting fuel cells, the fixture comprising

at least one internal frame member;

a first endplate assembly comprising

a first seal frame, and

a first active area compression plate

and a second endplate assembly; wherein

the internal frame member is located between the first endplate assembly and the second endplate assembly.

2 . The fixture according to claim 1 , wherein

a first compressive force may be applied between the first seal frame and the second endplate assembly;

a second compressive force may be applied between the first active area compression plate and the second endplate assembly; and

the second compressive force is applied independent from application of the first compressive force.

3 . The fixture according to claim 2 , wherein

the second endplate assembly comprising a second seal frame and a second active area compression plate; and

the first compressive force may be applied between the first seal frame and the second seal frame and the second compressive force may be applied between the first active area compression plate and the second active area compression plate.

4 . The fixture according to claim 3 , wherein the compressive force applied between the first seal frame and the second seal frame results in an applied pressure ranging from 5 to 50 kilograms per square centimeter.

5 . The fixture according to claim 4 , wherein the compressive force applied between the first seal frame and the second seal frame results in an applied pressure ranging from about 5 to 15 kilograms per square centimeter

6 . The fixture according to claim 3 , wherein the compressive force applied between the first active area compression plate and the second active area compression plate results in an applied pressure ranging from 9 to 48 kilograms per centimeter.

7 . The fixture according to claim 6 , wherein the compressive force applied between the first active area compression plate and the second active area compression plate results in an applied pressure ranging from about 20 to 40 kilograms per centimeter.

8 . The fixture according to claim 1 wherein the internal frame member is adapted to allow the mounting of interchangeable flowfield elements.

9 . The fixture according to claim 8 , wherein an interchangeable flowfield element is mounted on the internal frame member.

10 . The fixture according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one cooling cell.

11 . A fixture for testing fuel cells, the fixture comprising

a first endplate assembly;

a second endplate assembly;

at least one internal frame member mounted between the first endplate assembly and the second endplate assembly;

and a segmented current collector comprising a multiplicity of current collecting segments, wherein the current flowing through one current collecting segment can be measured independently of the current flowing through other current collecting segments.

12 . The fixture according to claim 11 , wherein

a first compressive force may be applied between the first seal frame and the second endplate assembly;

a second compressive force may be applied between the first active area compression plate and the second endplate assembly; and

the second compressive force is applied independent from application of the first compressive force.

13 . The fixture according to claim 11 , wherein each current collecting segment is substantially insulated from the other current collecting segments.

14 . The fixture according to claim 11 , wherein the internal frame member is adapted to allow the mounting of interchangeable flowfield elements.

15 . The fixture according to claim 14 , wherein an interchangeable flowfield element is mounted on the internal frame member.

16 . The fixture according to claim 11 , further comprising at least one cooling cell.

17 . A method of testing a fuel cell comprising assembling a fuel cell in a test fixture by housing an electrochemical package and two bipolar plates in the test fixture, and measuring a current output of the fuel cell; the fixture comprising at least one internal frame member; a first endplate assembly comprising a first seal frame, and a first active area compression plate; and a second endplate assembly; wherein the internal frame member, the electrochemical package and the two bipolar plates are located between the first endplate assembly and the second endplate assembly; a first compressive force may be applied between the first seal frame and the second endplate assembly; a second compressive force may be applied between the first active area compression plate and the second endplate assembly; and the second compressive force is applied independent from application of the first compressive force.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the first compressive force results in a pressure applied by the seal frame ranging from 5 to 50 kilograms per square centimeter.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the second compressive force results in a pressure applied by the first active area compression plate ranging from 9 to 48 kilograms per square centimeter.

20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein an interchangeable flowfield element is mounted to the internal frame member.