Field Deployable Power Distribution system and Method Thereof
First Claim
2-1. The field deployable electrical power distribution system of claim 2 wherein said controller is coupled to said regenerative fuel cell and includes means for determining the availability of said natural renewable resource.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for providing field deployable electrical power distribution is provided. The system includes a plurality of power sources providing electrical power to meet the electrical needs of a field operations camp. The power sources include at least one regenerative fuel cell that is arranged to provide a electrical power when renewable energy sources are unavailable. Also provided is at least one generator and one regenerative fuel cell electrically connected to the plurality of loads. Also provided is a plurality of power converters, each of the plurality of power converters being electrically connected between the at least one generator and regenerative fuel cell and one of the plurality of loads. An arrangement is also included for providing a high availability battery charging station.
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Citations
20 Claims
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2-1. The field deployable electrical power distribution system of claim 2 wherein said controller is coupled to said regenerative fuel cell and includes means for determining the availability of said natural renewable resource.
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4. The field deployable electrical power distribution system of claim 4 further comprising a second electrical circuit, said second electrical circuit being electrically coupled to said at least one power source.
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5. The field deployable electrical power distribution system of claim 5 wherein said second electrical load has different electrical characteristics from said first electrical circuit.
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6. The field deployable electrical power distribution system of claim 6 wherein said at least one electrical power source is comprised of a first and second power source wherein said first power source generates direct current electrical power and said second power source generates alternating current electrical power.
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7. The field deployable electrical power distribution system of claim 7 further comprising a power converter electrically coupled between said first power source and said first circuit, said power converter having means for controlling AC frequency, phase or voltage on either side of the converter and control the power flow at the same time.
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8. A field deployable electrical power distribution system, said system comprising:
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a plurality of electrical power sources for converting at least one natural renewable resource into electrical power; a first power converter having means for controlling AC frequency, phase or voltage on either side of the converter and control the power flow at the same time, said first power converter being electrically coupled to said plurality of electrical power sources; an electrical circuit coupled to said plurality of power sources, said first electrical circuit including a second power converter; and
,a regenerative fuel cell electrically coupled to said plurality of power sources and said electrical circuit, said regenerative fuel cell including; an electrolysis cell stack having water input and a hydrogen gas output, said electrolysis cell stack being arranged to receive electrical power from said at least one electrical power source; a water source fluidly coupled to said electrolysis cell stack; a hydrogen storage device coupled to said hydrogen gas output; and
,a fuel cell having an input and an electrical output, said input being coupled to said hydrogen storage device and said electrical output being coupled to said electrical circuit;
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9. The field deployable electrical power distribution system of claim 9 wherein said electrical circuit includes a removably connected a battery charging device.
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10. A method for optimizing the use of available electrical power sources, said method comprising the steps of:
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determining the amount of hydrogen gas held in storage; determining the amount of available electrical energy available from a regenerative fuel cell; comparing said amount of available electrical energy to a plurality of electrical circuits coupled to said regenerative fuel cell; and selectively disconnecting one or more of said plurality of electrical circuits based on a predetermined prioritization.
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11. The method for optimizing the use of available electrical power sources of claim 11 further comprising the steps of:
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determining the amount of electrical power being generated from a natural renewable resource; determining the amount of electrical power demand from an electrical circuit; and
,selectively operating said regenerative fuel cell if said electrical power demand is greater than said electrical power being generated.
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12. The method for optimizing the use of available electrical power sources of claim 12 further comprising the step of identifying some of said electrical circuits as mission critical electrical circuits.
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13. The method for optimizing the use of available electrical power sources of claim 13 wherein said step of selectively disconnecting electrical circuits is performed whereby the utilization of said electrical energy is maximized while maintaining mission critical electrical circuits.
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14. The method for optimizing the use of available electrical power sources of claim 14 further comprising the steps of determining an expected level of future electrical demand.
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15. The method for optimizing the use of available electrical power sources of claim 15 wherein said step of selectively disconnecting electrical circuits is determined based on the expected level of future electrical demand.
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16. The method for optimizing the use of available electrical power sources of claim 16 further comprising the step of transmitting an instruction to a load to reduce the consumption of electrical power.
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17. The method for optimizing the use of available electrical power sources of claim 17 further comprising the step of:
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determining if the amount of available electrical energy available from a natural renewable resource increases; and
,connecting one or more of said plurality of electrical circuits based on a predetermined prioritization and the availability of said increased natural renewable resource.
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18. The method for optimizing the use of available electrical power sources of claim 18 wherein said predetermined prioritization provides for connecting mission critical electrical circuits before non-mission critical electrical circuits.
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19. The method for optimizing the use of available electrical power sources of claim 19 further comprising the step of determining if the availability of said increased natural renewable resource is greater than the electrical demands from said plurality of electrical circuits.
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20. The method for optimizing the use of available electrical power sources of claim 20 further comprising the step of operating the regenerative fuel cell if the electrical power available from the natural renewable resource is greater than the electrical demand from the plurality of electrical circuits.
Specification