Power system with fuel cell and localized air-conditioning for computing equipment

• US 20070057510A1
• Filed: 09/14/2005
• Published: 03/15/2007
• 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, Meyers, Jerry, Willets, Julie
• Granted Patent: US 7,602,073 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/1.A
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/003 of fuel cells with other electrochemical devices, e.g. capacitors, electrolysers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/10 Fuel cells in stationary systems, e.g. emergency power source in plant
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/30 The power source being a fuel cell
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/062 for AC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

Disclosed is a power system which uses a fuel cell. DC output from the fuel cell is inverted to power an air conditioner. The air conditioner is used for the purpose of cooling equipment in the facility in the event the primary source of AC power fails. The air conditioner is located so that it is devoted to one or more computing devices in the facility. The selected devices are ones which perform some critical function, e.g., emergency communications.

Claims

1. A power system for a facility, said system adapted to be operable on a primary AC power source, said system including a backup power arrangement, said system comprising:

a fuel cell;

a conversion device for converting DC power produced by said fuel cell into a backup source of AC power; and

an air conditioner adapted to operate on said backup AC power, said air conditioner used for the purpose of cooling equipment in the event said primary AC power source fails.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said primary AC power source is a turbine generator.

3. The system of claim 1 comprising:

a battery for bridging between said primary AC power source and said fuel cell.

4. The system of claim 1 comprising:

a DC bus adapted to receive said DC power produced by said fuel cell;

a rectifier having an output into said DC bus, said rectifier electrically connected to said primary AC power source; and

said conversion device being electrically connected into said DC bus.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said conversion device is an inverter.

6. An air conditioning system for computing equipment, said system comprising:

a fuel cell producing a power output; and

a localized air conditioner adapted to be operable on said power output and said air conditioner being further adapted to cool at least one selected computing device.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said fuel cell includes at least one proton exchange membrane.

8. The system of claim 6 wherein said air conditioner has a capacity between at least 1 and 5 tons.

9. The system of claim 6 wherein said air conditioner has a capacity of about 3 tons.

10. The system of claim 6 comprising:

an inverter for converting said fuel cell power output into AC power which can be consumed by said air conditioner.

11. The system of claim 6 wherein said system of adapted to concentrate its heat-removal abilities on said at least one selected computing device.

12. The system of claim 6 wherein said system includes means to prevent the escape of cooling air to the general facility environment.

13. The system of claim 6 wherein said at least one selected computing device performs emergency communications functions.

14. The system of claim 6 wherein said at least one computing device is a server.

15. The system of claim 6 wherein said at least one computing device is a piece of telecommunications equipment.

16. A method of protecting a computing device from overheating comprising:

powering an air conditioner using a fuel cell; and

locating said air conditioner such that it is able to form a heat transfer interface with said computing device.

17. The method of claim 16 comprising:

inverting a DC power output of said fuel cell to create an AC source; and

operating said air conditioner on said AC source.

18. The method of claim 16 comprising:

selecting a device which performs emergency communications as said computing device.

19. The method of claim 16 comprising:

selecting a piece of telecommunications equipment as said computing device.

20. The method of claim 16 comprising:

selecting a server as said computing device.