In　this　study,　a　kW-grade　air-cooled　proton　exchange　membrane　fuel　cell　(PEMFC)　stack　with　a　dead-end　anode　(DEA)　operation　is　designed　and　manufactured.　The　gravityassisted　drainage　principle　is　applied　for　the　stack　to　design　the　wettability　of　gas　diffusion　layers　(GDLs)　and　the　anode　channel　geometry,　which　can　help　the　liquid　water　that　diffuses　to　the　anode　to　drain　out　of　the　anode　porous　electrode　and　move　down　the　anode　channel　outlets.　As　a　result,　the　stack　can　stably　operate　in　a　long　purge　interval　of　268　s　and　in　a　short　purge　time　of　2　s.　In　addition,　using　this　design,　only　four　small-power　fans　are　employed　to　pump　air　to　the　cathode　to　provide　oxygen　for　the　electrochemical　reaction　and　cool　the　stack.　With　a　constant　load　current　of　30,　45,　or　60　A,　the　stack　output　voltage　is　experimentally　tested　at　various　cathode　air　flow　rates　(CAFRs).　The　local　temperatures　(60　measurement　points)　inside　the　stack　and　the　pressure　differences　across　anode　channels　are　also　monitored　to　understand　heat　dissipation　and　the　back　diffusion　of　liquid　water.　In　a　wide　range　of　operating　conditions,　the　designed　stack　possesses　superior　and　stable　voltage　output　characteristics　with　relatively　uniform　temperature　distributions.　The　measured　maximum　output　power　is　3.83　kW,　and　the　parasitic　powers　of　fans　are　only　80　similar　to　112　W.　(C)　2022　Hydrogen　Energy　Publications　LLC.　Published　by　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.