Power system with reformer
First Claim
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1. A system for providing electrical power, said system comprising:
- a gas-extraction device for extracting a first source of gas from a first source of fuel;
a first gas-consuming device for noncombustibly using said first source of gas to create a first source of electrical power; and
a storage container for a second source of gas, said second source of gas maintained to be available for noncombustive consumption by one of said first gas-consuming device and a second gas-consuming device for the purpose of providing an alternative source of electrical power.
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Abstract
The present invention is a power system using a reformer/fuel cell arrangement as the primary source of power. The reformer is operated on either natural gas or propane. A backup source of power comprises a fuel cell which operates on stored hydrogen. The system also includes capacitors which are used to bridge when the system is transferred from the primary source to the backup source.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for providing electrical power, said system comprising:
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a gas-extraction device for extracting a first source of gas from a first source of fuel;
a first gas-consuming device for noncombustibly using said first source of gas to create a first source of electrical power; and
a storage container for a second source of gas, said second source of gas maintained to be available for noncombustive consumption by one of said first gas-consuming device and a second gas-consuming device for the purpose of providing an alternative source of electrical power. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of providing electrical power to a power-consuming device, comprising:
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incorporating said power-consuming device into a circuit;
incorporating an output of a first fuel cell into said circuit;
extracting hydrogen from a fuel to supply said first fuel cell if needed for providing electrical power to said power-consuming device;
incorporating an output of a second fuel cell into said circuit;
receiving hydrogen from a storage container to supply one of said first fuel cell and a second fuel cell if needed for providing electrical power to said power-consuming device. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A power system comprising:
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a circuit;
a hydrogen extractor operable on one of natural gas and propane;
a first fuel cell for receiving hydrogen from said hydrogen extractor, said first fuel cell having a first DC output included in said circuit;
a hydrogen storage container;
a second fuel cell operable using hydrogen received from said storage container;
said second fuel cell having a second DC output included in said circuit; and
at least one capacitor in said circuit to prevent power drops in said circuit.
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Specification