System for providing backup power from a regenerative fuel cell or battery arrangement
First Claim
1. A regulated DC power supply comprising:
- a rectifier coupled between a primary AC power source and a DC bus, the rectifier adapted to convert AC power from the AC power source to DC power for a load;
a fuel cell arrangement electrically coupled to a power converter that is coupled to the DC bus, the converter adapted to condition an unconditioned DC power output of the fuel cell to the load; and
a fuel cell controller communicatively coupled with the fuel cell arrangement and adapted to initiate DC power output from the fuel cell arrangement upon detecting an AC power outage; and
disengage the fuel cell upon detecting AC power resumption.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A regulated DC power supply facilitates extended and uninterrupted power to a load by using a secondary power source such as a regenerative fuel cell that has its DC power output conditioned by a power converter. The DC power supply includes a rectifier that converts AC power from an AC power source to DC power for a load coupled to a DC bus. A fuel cell arrangement is electrically coupled to a power converter that is coupled in turn to the DC bus, the converter conditions an unconditioned DC power output of the fuel cell to the load. A system controller is communicatively coupled to the rectifier, the converter and to a fuel cell controller, the fuel cell controller initiating DC power output from the fuel cell arrangement upon detecting the AC power outage (or disengaging the fuel cell upon resumption of AC power).
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A regulated DC power supply comprising:
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a rectifier coupled between a primary AC power source and a DC bus, the rectifier adapted to convert AC power from the AC power source to DC power for a load;
a fuel cell arrangement electrically coupled to a power converter that is coupled to the DC bus, the converter adapted to condition an unconditioned DC power output of the fuel cell to the load; and
a fuel cell controller communicatively coupled with the fuel cell arrangement and adapted to initiate DC power output from the fuel cell arrangement upon detecting an AC power outage; and
disengage the fuel cell upon detecting AC power resumption. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A regulated DC power supply comprising:
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a plurality of rectifiers coupled between a primary AC power source and a DC bus, the rectifiers adapted to convert AC power from the AC power source to DC power for a load;
a regenerative fuel cell (RFC) arrangement electrically coupled to a plurality of power converters that are coupled in parallel with the DC bus, the converters adapted to condition a DC power output of the RFC arrangement to the load; and
a fuel cell controller communicatively coupled with the fuel cell arrangement and adapted to initiate DC power output from the fuel cell arrangement upon detecting an AC power outage. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of providing extended backup power to a load via a power plant having a battery arrangement, the method comprising:
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providing DC power to the load from the battery arrangement via a DC bus upon interruption of a primary power source;
shedding a portion of the load when the DC bus voltage reaches a predetermined transition voltage;
providing power to the DC bus at or below a predetermined DC bus voltage from a secondary power source;
using a secondary power source controller to share current between the battery arrangement and the secondary power source; and
upon detecting primary power source resumption, switching the load from the secondary power source and battery arrangement to the primary power source via the secondary power source controller. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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23. A DC power plant configured to provide extended backup power to a load, the power plant including a battery arrangement adapted to temporarily provide power to the load upon interruption of a primary power source, the power plant comprising:
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a secondary power source adapted to provide extended backup power to the load via a DC bus; and
a secondary power source controller adapted to shed a portion of the load when the battery voltage reaches a predetermined transition voltage and to thereafter initiate power production from the secondary power source, wherein the controller is also adapted to share current between the battery arrangement and the secondary power source. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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Specification