×

Power system utilizing flow batteries

  • US 7,557,531 B2
  • Filed: 12/19/2005
  • Issued: 07/07/2009
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2005
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
Patent Images

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 primary source of DC power to said circuit in normal mode;

    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 secondary source of DC power for said circuit, wherein the AC source is connected directly into, and continually charges in normal mode, the energy storage device, and wherein the energy storage device is configured to be persistently on line, thereby automatically discharging to a DC bus when the AC source fails without activation;

    a back feed diode that restricts flow from the circuit to the DC bus that presents DC power to facilities telecommunications equipment, thereby preventing dissipation of DC power from the DC bus to the circuit;

    a fuel cell that provides DC power to the DC bus in parallel with the circuit when the AC source and the energy storage device can no longer carry load requirements of the DC bus; and

    a control system to open automated valves that deliver hydrogen from a tank to the fuel cell upon recognizing that the energy storage device has drained below load requirements of the DC bus.

View all claims
  • 6 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×