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A flow field plate for use in a PEM fuel cell using a gaseous fuel and oxidant, comprising a substantially planar surface and a flow field formed in the substantially planar surface is provided. The plate further includes a network of flow passages for supplying the fuel or oxidant to the flow field

A flow field plate for use in a PEM fuel cell using a gaseous fuel and oxidant, comprising a substantially planar surface and a flow field formed in the substantially planar surface is provided. The plate further includes a network of flow passages for supplying the fuel or oxidant to the flow field and a network of flow passages for receiving the gases discharging from the flow field. The flow field includes a plurality of substantially symmetric flow sectors having separate inlets and outlets communicating with the networks of supply and exhaust flow passages, respectively. Each flow sector includes a plurality of substantially parallel flow channels formed in the substantially planar plate surface, with each sector partitioned so as to subdivide the channels into a plurality of sets of channels disposed in serial flow relationship, with each set including a plurality of the channels disposed in parallel flow relationship. Consequently, the fuel or oxidant traverses each sector in a plurality of passes, with the gas flowing through a plurality of channels during each pass. Accordingly, the flow field configuration permits the reactant gases to be transported so as to supply the gases evenly to the entire active area of the corresponding fuel cell electrode with very low reactant gas pressure drop.

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A flow field plate for use in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell using a gaseous fuel and a gaseous oxidant, said flow field plate comprising: a substantially planar surface; a flow field formed in said substantially planar surface, said flow field being effective for transporting one of said gase

A flow field plate for use in a proton exchange membrane fuel cell using a gaseous fuel and a gaseous oxidant, said flow field plate comprising: a substantially planar surface; a flow field formed in said substantially planar surface, said flow field being effective for transporting one of said gaseous fuel and said gaseous oxidant during operation of said fuel cell; at least one supply flow passage effective for supplying said one of said gaseous fuel and said gaseous oxidant to said flow field during operation of said fuel cell; at least one exhaust flow passage effective for receiving said one of said gaseous fuel and said gaseous oxidant discharging from said flow field during operation of said fuel cell; wherein said flow field includes a plurality of substantially symmetric flow sectors, each of said flow sectors having a separate inlet communicating with said at least one supply flow passage and a separate outlet communicating with said at least one exhaust flow passage; wherein said one of said gaseous fuel and said gaseous oxidant traverses each of said flow sectors in a plurality of passes during operation of said fuel cell; wherein each of said flow sectors includes a plurality of substantially parallel flow channels formed in said substantially planar surface; each of said flow sectors is partitioned so as to subdivide said plurality of substantially parallel flow channels into a plurality of sets of said flow channels; each of said sets of said flow channels includes a plurality of said flow channels; said sets of said flow channels are disposed in serial flow relationship with one another and said flow channels of each of said sets are disposed in parallel flow relationship with one another, whereby said one of said gaseous fuel and said gaseous oxidant traverses each of said flow sectors in said plurality of said passes during operation of said fuel cell, wherein the number of said passes is equal to the number of said sets of said flow channels.