System for preventing gas pocket formation in a PEM coolant flow field

A method of preventing the formation and accumulation of a gas bubble, having a critical viscous pressure drop, in a PEM flow field system of coolant medium, comprising the steps of:

• providing a water transport plate including a coolant flow field channel therein having an input port and an exit port;
• providing at least one upward flow channel portion, arranged substantially perpendicular to ground, in said coolant flow field channel;
• providing at least one downward flow channel portion, arranged substantially perpendicular to ground;
• connecting said at least one upward flow channel portion to said at least one downward flow channel portion to each other in alternating fashion;
• and
• fluidly routing coolant medium through said coolant flow field channel of said water transport plate at a flow rate that results in a viscous pressure drop that is greater than the buoyancy of a gas bubble trapped within said coolant flow field channel.