Claims
- 1. A method of distributing hydration fluid within a fuel cell, said fuel cell having a fluid flow plate comprising a plurality of reactant flow channel sections defined in said fluid flow plate with at least one land interposed between said reactant flow channel sections, said land having a height and a width, said method comprising:providing a hydration fluid to said fuel cell, said hydration fluid entering said fuel cell through a fluid inlet opening; and directing a portion of said hydration fluid to a hole defined in and extending through the height of said land, said hole being fluidly connected to said inlet fluid opening.
- 2. A method as in claim 1, wherein said hydration fluid comprises de-ionized water.
- 3. A method as in claim 1, wherein said hole has an inlet and an outlet, said outlet being impinged against a wicking member.
- 4. A method as in claim 3, wherein said wicking member comprises a gas diffusion layer.
- 5. A method as in claim 3, wherein said wicking member distributes said fluid to said membrane.
- 6. A method as in claim 1, wherein said fuel cell is located in a fuel cell stack, said fuel cell stack comprising a plurality of fuel cells.
- 7. A method as in claim 1, wherein said land has a groove defined therein, groove being fluidly connected to said hole.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/398,608, filed Sep. 17, 1999, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,150,049.
US Referenced Citations (10)
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
58-119167 |
Jul 1983 |
JP |