Disclosed is a novel fluid flow field plate for use in a solid polymer
electrolyte fuel cell. The flow field plate is made of a suitable
electrically conducting material and comprises a substantially planar
surface, a flow field formed in said substantially planar surface, said
flow field comprising a plurality of staggered lands defining a network
of substantially symmetric interconnected orifices and diagonal channels
in the flow field and a fluid supply manifold through which fuel and an
oxidant are introduced to the flow field and a fluid exhaust manifold
through which reaction by-products and excess fuel and oxidant are
removed from the flow field. Streams of the fuel, oxidant and reaction
by-products are continually separated and diverted into separate
channels, and the separated streams are then mixed with streams from
adjacent channels in the orfices.