Power system for a telecommunications facility

• US 20060076780A1
• Filed: 11/28/2005
• Published: 04/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Johnson, Larry L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,245,034 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/1.A
• CPC Class Codes: B01B 1/005 Evaporation for physical or chemical purposes; Evaporation apparatus therefor, e.g. evaporation of liquids for gas phase reactions
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 3/06 with compression ignition compression ignition engines using air or gas for blowing fuel into compressed air in cylinder F02B13/02
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 43/10 Engines or plants characterised by use of other specific gases, e.g. acetylene, oxyhydrogen
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/023 to adjust the fuel mass or volume flow
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 29/06 peculiar to engines driving electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0206 Non-hydrocarbon fuels, e.g. hydrogen, ammonia or carbon monoxide
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0224 Secondary gaseous fuel storages
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0287 characterised by the transition from liquid to gaseous phase F02M21/06 takes precedence; Injection in liquid phase; Cooling and low temperature storage
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/06 Apparatus for de-liquefying, e.g. by heating
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels

Abstract

An energy generating system for a telecommunications facility includes a hydrogen fuel supply system. The hydrogen fuel supply system includes a source of liquid hydrogen which uses a high pressure expansion tank along with additional storage tanks. The system also incorporates first and second stage heat exchangers. The first stage exchanger is used to benefit from the endothermic reaction created when liquid hydrogen transforms into vapor. The cooling provided from this state change is transferred into a second medium which is delivered into a second stage heat transfer device and then used for air conditioning purposes. The system also includes a hydrogen generator which may be used to create AC power by combusting vaporous hydrogen.

Claims

1. A power supply system for a facility, comprising:

a liquid source;

a vaporizing system for the vaporization of a liquid from said liquid source into a vaporous fuel, said vaporization resulting in heat absorption;

a cooling system which is adapted to use said heat absorption to control temperatures in a location in said facility using said heat absorption; and

a generator which generates electric current using said vaporous fuel.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said generator is a fuel cell.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said fuel cell includes a proton exchange membrane.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said generator comprises an internal combustion engine.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said internal combustion engine is piston driven.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said liquid comprises hydrogen.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said electric current comprises alternating current.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said electric current comprises direct current.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said cooling system comprises:

a first heat transfer device which absorbs heat into at least one of liquid and vaporous hydrogen from a heat transfer medium, said heat transfer medium being useable for cooling purposes.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said heat transfer medium is a fluid.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said fluid comprises ethylene glycol.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said fluid comprises water.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein said heat transfer medium is a refrigerant.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein said cooling system comprises:

a second heat transfer device which accepts said heat transfer medium from said first heat exchange device and uses said heat transfer medium for cooling purposes.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein said first heat transfer device is incorporated into said vaporizing system.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein said cooling system is used for air conditioning in the facility.

17. A power supply system for providing electrical power to a telecommunications facility, said facility containing telecommunications equipment, said system comprising:

a fuel cell which is operable to produce electrical power for the purpose of operating said telecommunications equipment, said fuel cell adapted to be powered by hydrogen supplied from a source, said source including

a first storage vessel for meeting immediate hydrogen needs; and

a second storage vessel for meeting the normal operating needs;

said first vessel maintaining hydrogen at higher pressures than said second vessel;

a source of liquid hydrogen; and

a vaporizing system for converting said liquid hydrogen to vapor for delivery to at least one of said first and second vessels.

18. A method of supplying power for use in a facility, said method comprising:

providing a liquid source;

vaporizing the liquid into a vaporous fuel, said vaporization resulting in heat absorption;

using said heat absorption for cooling purposes in the facility; and

generating electric current using said vaporous fuel.

19. The method of claim 18, comprising:

combusting the vaporous fuel in accomplishing the generating step.

20. The method of claim 18, comprising:

introducing the vaporous fuel into a fuel cell in said generating step.