Patent ID: 8173321

Claim:
A fuel cell having a membrane electrode assembly ( 16 ) which is arranged between two separator plate units ( 44 ), the separator plate units having a first fluid area ( 12 ) for distribution of a first fluid, which is adjacent to a first side of the membrane electrode assembly ( 16 ), and having a second fluid area ( 14 ) for distribution of a second fluid, which is adjacent to a second side of the membrane electrode assembly ( 16 ) opposite the first side, wherein a separating wall ( 36 ) is arranged in at least one of said first and second fluid areas ( 12 , 14 ) and subdivides the fluid area ( 12 , 14 ) into at least one metering area ( 32 ) and one adjacent fluid subarea ( 34 ), wherein the at least one metering area ( 32 ) has a fluid connection to the adjacent fluid subarea ( 34 ) at least one metering point ( 38 ), such that the first fluid can be metered from the metering area ( 32 ) through the metering point ( 38 ) into the adjacent fluid subarea ( 34 ), said first and second fluid areas ( 12 , 14 ) each having an edge inlet port ( 24 ) and an outlet port ( 26 ), wherein, starting from an edge inlet port ( 24 ) of the fluid into the fluid area ( 12 ), a cross section of the fluid subarea ( 34 ) increases in the flow direction ( 40 ) of the first fluid towards an outlet port ( 26 ), and wherein the metering area ( 32 ) is filled with a porous material ( 46 ).