Power system utilizing flow batteries

• US 20070138872A1
• Filed: 12/19/2005
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2005
• 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 7,557,531 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/66
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/10 Parallel operation of dc sources
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 Applications of fuel cells in buildings

Abstract

The present invention is an energy generating system which uses an advanced aqueous-electrolyte energy storage system in conjunction with a commercial available primary source of power and a backup fuel cell.

Claims

1. A system for maintaining DC power to a circuit comprising:

a conversion device adapted to accept AC power from an AC source and convert said AC power into a first source of DC power to said circuit;

an energy storage device adapted to charge and discharge upon the circulation of a flowable electrolyte through an electrode, said device being included in said circuit as a second source of DC power for said circuit; and

a fuel cell included in said circuit as a third source of DC power for said circuit.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said circuit includes a capacitor which is adapted to bridge during delays in fuel cell start up.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said circuit includes a back feed diode between said energy storage device and said fuel cell.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said circuit includes a capacitor which is adapted to bridge during delays in fuel cell start up, said back feed diode being located between said capacitor and said energy storage device.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said fuel cell comprises at least one proton exchange membrane (PEM).

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said energy storage device is a zinc-energy storage system.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said zinc-bromine energy storage system uses polybromide complexes.

8. A power supply comprising:

a utility-provided primary source of power for at least one power-consuming device;

an advanced aqueous-electrolyte energy storage system for providing backup power to said power-consuming device; and

a fuel cell for providing an alternative additional source of backup power to said device.

9. The power supply of claim 8 including a capacitor which is adapted to bridge during delays in fuel cell start up.

10. The power supply of claim 9 wherein a back feed diode is interposed between said energy storage system and said capacitor.

11. The power supply of claim 8 wherein said fuel cell comprises at least one proton exchange membrane (PEM).

12. The power supply of claim 8 wherein said energy storage system is a zinc-bromine flow energy storage system.

13. The power supply of claim 12 wherein said zinc-bromine flow energy storage system uses polybromide complexes.

14. The power supply of claim 8 comprising a conversion device which is adapted to accept AC power from an AC source and convert said AC power into a source of DC power, said source of DC power comprising said primary source of power.

15. The power supply of claim 14 wherein said conversion device is an Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGTB).

16. The power supply of claim 15 wherein said IGTB is included in said energy storage system.

17. A method of supplying power comprising:

converting a source of AC power into a first source of DC power for a power-consuming device;

using an advanced aqueous-electrolyte energy storage system as a second source of DC power for said power-consuming device in the event said first source is unavailable; and

connecting the electrical output of a fuel cell with said device to provide an alternative third source of DC power for said device in the event said first and second sources are both unavailable.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

providing a back diode to prevent the loss of electrical power back into said energy storage system in the event said fuel cell is activated.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

providing a capacitor to temporarily maintain power to said device in the event said first and second sources are unavailable and said fuel cell has not yet become operational.

20. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

using an IGBT to accomplish said converting step.