Regenerative bipolar fuel cell

The present invention discloses a fuel cell, which incorporates a bipolar plate. The regenerative bipolar fuel cell of the present invention contains at least one hydrogen electrode in contact with a hydrogen stream and at least one oxygen electrode in contact with an oxygen stream. At least one electrolyte chamber is in contact with the hydrogen electrode and at least one electrolyte chamber is in contact with the oxygen electrode. The electrolyte chambers provide mechanical support within the fuel cell and provide an uninterrupted pathway for an electrolyte solution to contact the hydrogen electrode and the oxygen electrode, respectively. At least one bipolar plate is positioned between the hydrogen electrode and the oxygen electrode. The bipolar plate has a hydrogen side in contact with the hydrogen electrode and an oxygen side in contact with the oxygen electrode. The bipolar plate eliminates the need for electrode support frames within a fuel cell and provides an entire electrode in one epoxy frame that ensures the integrity of the different pieces while maintaining the different fluids to be available at the points of their respective reactions. In addition, the bipolar plate acts as a manifold for gas distribution and a gasket for sealing.