Patent ID: 8124292

Claim:
A fuel cell stack comprising: a) a bipolar plate assembly comprising a first generally planar plate body having: i) a first generally planar face comprising a first reactant flow field; and ii) a second generally planar face parallel to the first face defining a first opening that connects to a first open channel in the second planar face, wherein the first open channel extends from the first opening toward a periphery of the plate and entirely penetrates through the first generally planar plate body to connect with the first reactant flow field to define a first fluid flow path; b) a first membrane electrode assembly having a first face in operable communication with the first reactant flow field; c) a reactant manifold in fluid communication with the reactant flow field by way of the first fluid flow path, the reactant manifold being adapted and configured to facilitate transport of a reactant through the fuel cell stack; and d) a layer of encapsulating material disposed about the bipolar separator plate assembly, membrane electrode assembly and reactant manifold, wherein the reactant manifold is bounded and defined at least in part by the encapsulating material.