Power system for a telecommunication facility

• US 7,242,104 B1
• Filed: 07/25/2006
• Issued: 07/10/2007
• 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:
  US11/459,753
• Time in Patent Office: 350 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1.A, 290/52, 290/1.R, 290/2, 322/7, 322/14, 307/64, 606/98
• US Class Current: 290/1.00A
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/12 Parallel operation of dc generators with converters, e.g. with mercury-arc rectifier
• 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: 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 method of providing electrical power at a site, said site requiring the use of power-consuming computing devices, said method comprising:

storing a supply of hydrogen at the site; and

providing a fuel cell, said fuel cell being adapted to consume said hydrogen and produce a DC power output to serve as a second power source in the event a first source of power is not available.

2. The method of claim 1 comprising:

directing said DC power output from said fuel cell into a circuit;

including a capacitor in said circuit to maintain power to said site in the event that neither said first source of power nor said DC power output is available.

3. The method of claim 1 comprising:

using a plurality of hydrogen storage tanks to accomplish said step of storing a supply of hydrogen at a site.

4. The method of claim 1 comprising:

receiving said first source of power from a utility.

5. The method of claim 4 comprising:

providing a microturbine adapted to selectively produce as an output electrical power at least part of the time said utility is unavailable.