NOVELTY - Solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack comprises solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells stacked in series, where each fuel cell comprises a framed membrane electrode assembly, where the stack comprises separator plates separating the framed membrane electrode assemblies, and each separator plate comprises a reactant port that forms an internal reactant manifold when stacked together in the fuel cell stack.    USE - The solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack is useful for generating electricity.    ADVANTAGE - The special framed membrane electrode assembly in the solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack is a simple, cost effective alternative to employing a special separator plate without reactant ports or to employing sealing plugs in the separator plate ports in sealing the internal reactant manifold at an end separator plate in the stack.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack comprises solid polymer electrolyte fuel cells stacked in series, where each fuel cell comprises a framed membrane electrode assembly, where the stack comprises separator plates separating the framed membrane electrode assemblies, and each separator plate comprises a reactant port that forms an internal reactant manifold when stacked together in the fuel cell stack. The frame of the framed membrane electrode assembly at one end of the stack has no opening adjacent the reactant port in the neighboring separator plate, thus sealing the end of the reactant manifold; and the frames of the other framed membrane electrode assemblies in the stack comprise openings adjacent the reactant ports in the neighboring separator plates, thus allowing for reactant flow through the reactant manifold. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for a method of sealing an internal reactant manifold in a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack comprising: (a) providing the framed membrane electrode assembly at one end of the stack with no opening adjacent the port in the neighboring separator plates and thus sealing the end of the reactant manifold; and (b) providing the other framed membrane electrode assemblies in the stack with openings adjacent the ports in the neighboring separator plates and allowing for reactant flow through the reactant manifold.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The drawing shows a schematic side view of the solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack.    Cells (2)    Framed membrane electrode assemblies (3)    Conventional membrane electrode assemblies (4)    Frames (5)    Fuel inlet ports (6,12)    Fuel outlet ports (7,13)    Dashed area (8)    Separator plates (9)    Oxidant flow fields (10)    Fuel flow fields (11)    Gasket seals (14)    Conventional end plate hardware (15)    Sealing plugs (16)