Patent ID: 8877392

Claim:
A fluid regulation system for a fuel cell stack, the fuel cell stack including a plurality of fuel cells in a stacked orientation and positioned between opposing first and second end plates, the fluid regulation system comprising: a porous element having a first end and a second end, the porous element spanning a fluid inlet of the fuel cell stack, wherein the first end of the porous element abuts the first end plate and the second end of the porous element abuts the second end plate, the porous element effective to collect a liquid water from a reactant gas flowing therethrough, the porous element disposed in an inlet header adjacent an inlet to a flow field of a fuel cell of the fuel cell stack; and a fluid collection member extending from a surface of one of the first and second end plates and disposed in the fluid inlet directly adjacent the porous element, the fluid collection member in fluid communication with the porous element.