In　this　study,　micro-heat　pipe　arrays　(MHPAs)　are　integrated　into　air-cooled　proton　exchange　membrane　fuel　cells　(PEMFCs)　to　enhance　their　load　level　and　heat　dissipation.　Experiments　are　carried　out　to　compare　the　relevant　thermal　performance　of　the　stack　consisting　of　50　units　at　different　operating　conditions.　A　three-dimensional,　non-isothermal,　and　steady-state　numerical　model　of　a　single　cell　in　the　stack　is　then　established　to　analyze　the　effect　of　a　MHPA　on　the　electrochemical　parameters　within　the　cell.　The　results　of　the　experiments　show　that　the　load　level　of　the　stack　with　MHPAs　is　40　%　higher　than　that　without　MHPAs　near　the　limit　temperature.　Meanwhile,　the　average　temperature　of　the　stack　with　MHPAs　is　8.3　degrees　C　lower　than　that　without　MHPAs　at　33　A,　and　MHPAs　make　the　temperature　more　uniform.　Numerical　study　shows　that　the　decrease　of　cell　temperature　by　MHPA　enables　the　proton　exchange　membrane　to　maintain　better　hydration　and　higher　current　density.　At　an　operating　voltage　of　0.628　V,　the　average　temperature　in　the　membrane　of　a　single　cell　with　MHPA　is　8.8　degrees　C　lower　than　that　of　PEMFC,　and　the　average　water　content　and　current　density　are　2.01　and　241.06　A/m2　higher　than　those　without　MHPA,　respectively.