System for providing assured power to a critical load
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A power system (8) for providing uninterrupted AC electric power to a critical load (14), comprising:
- a. a first power source (18) comprising at least one fuel cell power plant (18), the first power source normally providing sufficient power to supply at least the critical load (14) and being normally substantially continuously connected and providing power to, the critical load (14);
b. a second AC power source (10) comprising a utility power grid normally providing sufficient power to supply the critical load (14);
c. high speed isolation switching means (19) for selectively connecting and disconnecting the second power source (10) to the first power source (18) and to the critical load (14);
d. a switch controller (49, 45) for controlling the state of the high speed isolation switching means (19) to connect the second power source (10) with the critical load (14) and the first power source (18) during normal operation of the second power source (10) whereby the first power source can provide any excess power to the second power source, and to rapidly disconnect the second power source (10) from the critical load (14) and the first power source (18) if and when operation of the second power source (10) deviates beyond a limit from normal;
e. the at least one said fuel cell power plant (18) comprising a fuel cell (60) and a power conditioning system (PCS) (62) including an inverter (64), the fuel cell (60) being normally connected to supply DC power to the inverter (64) for conversion to AC power to supply the critical load (14), the power conditioning system (PCS) (62) operating to configure operation of the respective fuel cell (18) in a grid connected mode or in a grid independent mode in response to mode control signals (D1/401′
, D2/402′
);
f. a site management controller (31) connected intermediate the switch controller (49, 45) and the power conditioning system (PCS) (62) and being responsive to preliminary mode signals (M1/401, M2/402) from the switch controller (49, 45) for providing the mode control signals (D1/401′
, D2/402′
) to the fuel cell power conditioning system (PCS) (62) to rapidly transition operation of the fuel cell power plant (18) between the grid connected and the grid independent modes; and
g. power assurance means (65;
10″
, 66, 64, 70;
74,75) operatively connected to at least the inverter (64) of the PCS (62) of the fuel cell power plant (18) to provide an even and continuous supply of AC power to the critical load (14).
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Accused Products
Abstract
A first AC power source comprising a power plant (18), and a second power source, typically grid (10), are normally connected via a high speed isolation switching means (19) to provide sufficient AC power to a critical load (14). The power plant (18) comprises a power generating means, e.g. a fuel cell, (60) and a power conditioning system (PCS) (62) having an inverter (64). Power assurance means (65; 10″, 66, 64, 70; 74, 75) is/are operatively connected to at least one of the first and second power sources to enhance an even and continuous supply of power to the critical load (14). The power assurance means (65; 10″, 66, 64, 70; 74, 75) is/are operatively connected to the PCS inverter (64), and may be one, or a combination of, a surge suppression means (65), a double-conversion power connection means (10″, 66, 64, 70) having a rectifier (66); and/or stored energy means (74), such as a capacitor (75).
65 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A power system (8) for providing uninterrupted AC electric power to a critical load (14), comprising:
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a. a first power source (18) comprising at least one fuel cell power plant (18), the first power source normally providing sufficient power to supply at least the critical load (14) and being normally substantially continuously connected and providing power to, the critical load (14); b. a second AC power source (10) comprising a utility power grid normally providing sufficient power to supply the critical load (14); c. high speed isolation switching means (19) for selectively connecting and disconnecting the second power source (10) to the first power source (18) and to the critical load (14); d. a switch controller (49, 45) for controlling the state of the high speed isolation switching means (19) to connect the second power source (10) with the critical load (14) and the first power source (18) during normal operation of the second power source (10) whereby the first power source can provide any excess power to the second power source, and to rapidly disconnect the second power source (10) from the critical load (14) and the first power source (18) if and when operation of the second power source (10) deviates beyond a limit from normal; e. the at least one said fuel cell power plant (18) comprising a fuel cell (60) and a power conditioning system (PCS) (62) including an inverter (64), the fuel cell (60) being normally connected to supply DC power to the inverter (64) for conversion to AC power to supply the critical load (14), the power conditioning system (PCS) (62) operating to configure operation of the respective fuel cell (18) in a grid connected mode or in a grid independent mode in response to mode control signals (D1/401′
, D2/402′
);f. a site management controller (31) connected intermediate the switch controller (49, 45) and the power conditioning system (PCS) (62) and being responsive to preliminary mode signals (M1/401, M2/402) from the switch controller (49, 45) for providing the mode control signals (D1/401′
, D2/402′
) to the fuel cell power conditioning system (PCS) (62) to rapidly transition operation of the fuel cell power plant (18) between the grid connected and the grid independent modes; andg. power assurance means (65;
10″
, 66, 64, 70;
74,75) operatively connected to at least the inverter (64) of the PCS (62) of the fuel cell power plant (18) to provide an even and continuous supply of AC power to the critical load (14). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A power system (8) for providing uninterrupted AC electric power to a critical load (14), comprising:
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a. a first power source (18) comprising at least one power plant (18), the first power source normally providing sufficient power to supply at least the critical load (14) and being normally substantially continuously connected and providing power to, the critical load (14); b. a second AC power source (10) comprising a utility power grid normally providing sufficient power to supply the critical load (14); c. high speed isolation switching means (19) for selectively connecting and disconnecting the second power source (10) to the first power source (18) and to the critical load (14); d. a switch controller (49, 45) for controlling the state of the high speed isolation switching means (19) to connect the second power source (10) with the critical load (14) and the first power source (18) during normal operation of the second power source (10) whereby any excess power from the first power source is available to the second power source, and to rapidly disconnect the second power source (10) from the critical load (14) and the first power source (18) if and when operation of the second power source (10) deviates beyond a limit from normal; e. the at least one said power plant (18) comprising means (60) for generating power and a power conditioning system (PCS) (62) including an inverter (64), the power generating means (60) being normally connected to supply DC power to the inverter (64) for conversion to AC power to supply the critical load (14), the power conditioning system (PCS) (62) operating to configure operation of the respective power plant (18) in a grid connected mode or in a grid independent mode in response to mode control signals (D1/401′
, D2/402′
);f. a site management controller (31) connected intermediate the switch controller (49, 45) and the power conditioning system (PCS) (62) and being responsive to preliminary mode signals (M1/401, M2/402) from the switch controller (49, 45) for providing the mode control signals (D1/401′
, D2/402′
) to the power conditioning system (PCS) (62) to rapidly transition operation of the power plant (18) between the grid connected and the grid independent modes; andg. power assurance means (65;
10″
, 66, 64, 70;
74,75) operatively connected to at least the inverter (64) of the PCS (62) of the power plant (18) to provide an even and continuous supply of AC power to the critical load (14). - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification
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Current AssigneeHyaxiom Incorporated
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Original AssigneeUTC Fuel Cells, LLC
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InventorsYoung, Douglas Gibbons, Healy, Herbert C.
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Primary Examiner(s)Sircus, Brian
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Assistant Examiner(s)SQUIRES, BRETT S
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Application NumberUS10/255,921Publication NumberTime in Patent Office1,356 DaysField of Search307/45, 307/64, 307/66US Class Current307/45CPC Class CodesH02J 2300/30 The power source being a fu...H02J 3/32 using batteries with conver...H02J 9/062 for AC powered loadsY02B 90/10 Applications of fuel cells ...
