Patent ID: 8173319

Claim:
A system for transporting accumulated water in a fuel cell system comprising: a fuel cell flow field plate; at least one channel having a generally “U” shaped cross-section disposed on a surface of the fuel cell flow field plate, the channel having a top portion approximate the surface of the fuel cell flow field plate and a channel root away from the surface of the fuel cell flow field plate; and at least one water management fin residing on a wall of the channel and arranged within the channel and contacting the flow field plate surface, such that when the accumulated water is transported along the channel, the water management fin guides at least some of the accumulated water towards a channel root, wherein the water management fin comprises: a top portion approximately at least substantially flush with the flow field plate surface; a bottom portion extending towards a channel root of the channel; and a face portion disposed between the top and bottom portions and protruding outward from the wall of the channel, wherein the accumulated water transported along the channel is guided by the fin face from proximate the top portion of the fin towards the bottom portion of the fin to the channel root.