Power system for a telecommunication facility

• US 6,992,401 B1
• Filed: 03/15/2005
• Issued: 01/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Johnson, Larry L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ponomarenko, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US11/079,984
• Time in Patent Office: 322 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1.A, 290/1.R, 290/4.R, 322/7, 322/9, 322/14
• US Class Current: 290/1.00A
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/10 Fuel cells in stationary systems, e.g. emergency power source in plant
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/402 Combination of fuel cell with other electric generators combination of fuel cells with other electrochemical generator H01M16/003
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2250/407 Combination of fuel cells with mechanical energy generators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04619 of fuel cell stacks
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04664 Failure or abnormal function
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04753 of fuel cell reactants
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04955 Shut-off or shut-down of fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/30 The power source being a fuel cell
• 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

Disclosed is a method of supplying DC power to equipment using proton exchange membranes (PEMs). PEMs run on hydrogen to produce DC electrical power. In the disclosed embodiment these PEMs are used as an alternative source of power to AC sources. One of these other sources is generated by an array of gas turbines. Another source is provided by a commercial utility. AC from these sources is converted using rectifiers. Capacitors are used to bridge when switching between energy sources.

Claims

1. A secondary power supply system for maintaining electrical power to a device, said system comprising:

at least one proton exchange membrane that is operable to produce DC electrical power adaptable to power said equipment, said at least one proton exchange membrane adapted to be powered by a fuel.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fuel for said at least one proton exchange membrane includes hydrogen.

3. A system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said fuel is stored on site.

4. A system as set forth in claim 1, comprising:

at least one capacitor coupled to an output of said at least one proton exchange membrane.

5. The system of claim 1, said system comprising:

at least one microturbine operable to produce AC electrical power and adapted to be powered by a fuel.

6. The system of claim 5 comprising:

at least one rectifier operable to convert said AC electrical power received from said at least one microturbine into DC electrical power for the purpose of powering said device.

7. The system of claim 6, comprising:

at least one capacitor coupled to said at least one rectifier, said capacitor serving to avoid power drops when switching from one energy source to another.

8. A method for supplying power to a system, said method comprising:

providing at least one proton exchange membrane, said at least one proton exchange membrane adapted to receive a fuel to produce DC electrical power;

and;

providing said DC electrical power produced by said at least one proton exchange membrane as an alternative source of power in said system to maintain to avoid power failure.

9. A method as set forth in claim 8, comprising:

operating said system using said DC electrical power produced by said at least one proton exchange membrane if an amount of power from another source of power to the facility falls below a predetermined value.

10. The method of claim 8, comprising:

storing a portion of said DC electrical power produced by said at least one proton exchange membrane to at least one capacitor for the purpose of maintaining power during transitioning between power sources.

11. The method of claim 8, comprising:

supplying hydrogen to at least partially accomplish fueling of said proton exchange membrane.

12. The method of claim 11, comprising:

presenting said hydrogen in vaporous form.

13. A power system for a facility comprising:

a proton exchange membrane (PEM);

a conduit for delivering a fuel comprising hydrogen into said PEM for the purpose of producing an electrical current; and

a control system for triggering the delivery of said fuel to said PEM to produce said electrical current when a need for said electrical current is indicated.

14. The system of claim 13, comprising:

a combusting device adapted to combust natural gas to generating a first additional source of electrical current.

15. The system of claim 14, in which said combusting device is alternatively operable on propane.

16. The system of claim 13 in which said fuel comprising hydrogen is substantially-pure hydrogen.

17. The system of claim 16 in which said substantially-pure hydrogen is stored in a plurality of tanks.

18. The system of claim 17 in which said substantially pure hydrogen is maintained in vaporous form to ensure immediate availability.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein said facility power controller comprises:

a sensor which recognizes said need for said electrical current.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein said facility power controller comprises:

a programmable device.