Fuel cell having a hydrophilic substrate layer

A fuel cell, comprising:

• an anode support plate and a cathode support plate and a membrane electrode assembly disposed between said anode and cathode support plates, said membrane electrode assembly comprising a polymer electrolyte membrane, at least one of said support plates comprising a hydrophilic substrate layer having pores therein;
• a water transport plate adjacent to each said hydrophilic substrate layer, each said water transport plate having a passageway for a water stream and another passageway for a reactant gas stream;
• and
• a diffusion layer disposed between at least one said hydrophilic substrate layer and said membrane electrode assembly, the thickness of each said diffusion layer being more than about 5.0 microns and less than 25.0 microns.

A fuel cell, comprising:

• an anode support plate and a cathode support plate and a membrane electrode assembly disposed between said anode and cathode support plates, said membrane electrode assembly comprising a polymer electrolyte membrane, at least one of said support plates comprising a hydrophilic substrate layer having pores therein;
• a water transport plate adjacent to each said hydrophilic substrate layer, each said water transport plate having a passageway for a water stream and another passageway for a reactant gas stream;
• a diffusion layer disposed between at least one said hydrophilic substrate layer and said membrane electrode assembly;
• and
• means for creating pressure differential between said reactant gas streams and said coolant stream such that the pressure of each said reactant gas stream is greater than the pressure of said coolant stream, said pressure differential being more than 0.2 psi and less than 1.7 psi.

A fuel cell, comprising:

• an anode support plate and a cathode support plate and a membrane electrode assembly disposed between said anode and cathode support plates, said membrane electrode assembly comprising a polymer electrolyte membrane, at least one of said support plates comprising a hydrophilic substrate layer having pores therein;
• a water transport plate adjacent to each said hydrophilic substrate layer, each said water transport plate having a passageway for a water stream and another passageway for a reactant gas stream;
• and
• means for creating pressure differential between said reactant gas streams and said coolant stream such that the pressure of each said reactant gas stream is greater than the pressure of said coolant stream, said pressure differential being more than 0.2 psi and less than 1.7 psi.