Backup power hierarchy for a facility system

• US 20060038403A1
• Filed: 03/15/2005
• Published: 02/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Johnson, Larry L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,256,506 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/1.A
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/40 Fuel cell technologies in production processes

Abstract

A system is disclosed which accomplishes a method of providing backup power to a device in a facility. The method includes using turbines to combusting a fuel to generate a primary power source. If this source fails, a secondary source of power is obtained from a commercial utility. If the commercial utility is not available, power is generated by a proton exchange membrane. Proton exchange membranes generate power by noncombustibly consuming hydrogen. Capacitors are used to maintain power when the system switches between energy sources.

Claims

1. A method of continuously delivering power to a device, said method comprising:

combusting a fuel to generate a primary power source;

obtaining power from a provider of electrical power to comprise a second power source if said primary power source fails; and

generating power by noncombustibly consuming a gas to comprise a third power source if said second power source fails.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising:

providing a switching device for switching between said primary and second power sources;

providing a first sensor for detecting failure of said primary power source; and

switching from said primary power source to said secondary power source if said first sensor detects failure of said primary power source.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said gas is noncombustibly consumed by a proton exchange membrane to comprise said third power source.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said first power source creates a first source of alternating current (AC) and said second power source creates a second source of alternating current and said method further comprises:

converting said first and second alternating currents into direct current (DC) using a conversion device.

5. The method of claim 4 comprising:

providing a rectifier to function as said conversion device.

6. The method of claim 1 comprising:

electrically incorporating an energy-storage device to temporarily maintain power when switching between any of said first, second and third power sources.

7. The method of claim 6 comprising:

providing a capacitor to function as said energy-storage device.

8. The method of claim 1 comprising:

providing a switch between said capacitor and said third energy source;

adapting said switch to be closed so long as said power delivered by said third energy source exceeds a predetermined value;

adapting said switch to open when said power delivered by said third energy source falls below said predetermined value.

9. The method of claim 8 comprising:

setting said predetermined value at one of 48 volts DC and 200 amps DC.

10. The method of claim 1 comprising:

providing hydrogen to serve as said gas.

11. The method of claim 10 comprising:

storing said hydrogen on site.

12. The method of claim 1 comprising:

deriving said primary power source from a turbine.

13. The method of claim 12 comprising:

providing a microturbine to serve as said turbine.

14. The method of claim 1 comprising:

bridging any drop in power caused by switching from said second power source to said third power source using an energy storage device.

15. A method of maintaining power comprising:

providing a primary energy source by one of combusting a fuel in a turbine and deriving alternating current from a commercial utility;

automatically switching to an alternative power source upon failure of said primary source; and

generating said alternative power source by noncombustibly consuming a gas.

16. The method of claim 15 comprising:

bridging any drop in power caused by said automatic switching using an energy storage device.

17. The method of claim 16 comprising:

providing a capacitor to serve as said energy storage device.

18. A power system for continuously delivering power to a device, said system comprising:

a sensing system or for detecting a drop in power being received from a primary source of electrical power, said primary source being derived from one of an electrical utility and combusting a fuel;

a switch which is adapted to automatically shift to a secondary source of electrical power when said sensing system detects a drop in said primary source of electrical power; and

adapting said secondary source of electrical power to be generated by non-combustibly consuming a gas.

19. The system of claim 18 comprising wherein said gas is hydrogen.

20. The system of claim 19 comprising:

wherein said secondary source of electrical power is a proton exchange membrane.