Power system with hydrogen on demand

• US 20060286416A1
• Filed: 06/15/2005
• Published: 12/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2005
• 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., Willets, Julie A., Meyers, Jerry D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,629,707 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/64
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/006 of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04208 Cartridges, cryogenic media or cryogenic reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/065 by dissolution of metals or alloys; by dehydriding metallic substances
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/40 Fuel cell technologies in production processes

Abstract

The present invention is a power system using a reformer/fuel cell arrangement as the primary source of DC power. The reformer is operated on either natural gas or propane. A backup source of power consumes hydrogen which is diffused from a solid medium. On an as-needed basis, the medium is reacted to release hydrogen gas which is consumed by a fuel cell to generate backup DC power. The system also includes Lithium-Metal-Polymer batteries which are used for both bridging and backup purposes.

Claims

1. A method of providing electrical power to a power-consuming device in a circuit, said method comprising:

providing a source of hydrogen included in a storage medium;

incorporating an output of a first fuel cell into said circuit;

releasing said hydrogen from said storage medium for the purpose of noncombustibly consuming said hydrogen in said first fuel cell to provide electrical power to said power-consuming device.

2. The method of claim 1, comprising:

including at least one energy-storage device in said circuit; and

eliminating power drops in said circuit using said at least one energy-storage device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said including step further comprises:

providing at least one LMP battery to serve as said at least one energy-storage device in said circuit.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising:

executing said releasing step when a primary source of power is unavailable.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said releasing step further comprises:

introducing an aqueous solution to cause said releasing step.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing step comprises:

selecting a chemical compound to serve as said storage medium.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing step comprises:

selecting a metal hydride to serve as said storage medium.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing step comprises:

selecting sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) to serve as said storage medium.

9. A system for maintaining power in a DC circuit, said system comprising:

a primary source of DC electrical power adapted to introduce DC electrical power into said circuit;

a storage medium in which said gas is included, said medium being adapted to release said gas upon one of (i) the introduction of heat;

(ii) the introduction of a catalyst; and

a secondary source of DC electrical power, said secondary source adapted to noncombustibly consume a gas to deliver DC electrical power to said circuit.

10. A system for providing backup electrical power, said system comprising:

a gas-extraction device for extracting a first source of gas from a first source of fuel;

a first gas-consuming device for noncombustibly using said first source of gas to create a first source of electrical power; and

a second source of gas included in a medium, said second source of gas maintained for noncombustive consumption by one of said first gas-consuming device and a second gas-consuming device for the purpose of providing an alternative source of electrical power.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said first gas-consuming device is a fuel cell.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein said one of said first gas-consuming device and said second gas-consuming device is a fuel cell.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein said first source of gas is hydrogen.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein said second source of gas is hydrogen.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein said medium comprises a metal hydride.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein said medium comprises sodium borohydride (NaBH₄).

17. The system of claim 10 wherein said medium comprises a solid compound.

18. The system of claim 10 comprising:

at least one LMP battery for maintaining constant power.

19. The system of claim 10 comprising:

a circuit for receiving both said first and second electrical sources of power; and

a power-consuming device included in said circuit.

20. The system of claim 10 wherein said source of fuel is a propane tank and said system is operable independently without contribution from a utility company.