Power system for a telecommunication facility

• US 6,879,052 B1
• Filed: 07/07/2004
• Issued: 04/12/2005
• 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:
  US10/886,345
• Time in Patent Office: 279 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1.R, 290/1.A, 290/52, 307/64, 322/7
• US Class Current: 290/1.00A
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/06 with automatic change-over , e.g. UPS systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/06 using discharge tubes without control electrode or semiconductor devices without control electrode
• 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

A power system specifically designed to provide reliable electrical power to a telecommunication facility is disclosed. The system includes a number of microturbine generators adapted to provide AC power that is then rectified to DC power by an array of rectifiers. The system is configured so that the microturbine generators are fueled initially by utility-supplied natural gas. In the event the utility-supplied natural gas fails, the system provides propane from a storage tank to fuel the microturbine generators. If both microturbine generator fuel sources fail or their fuel supply becomes exhausted, power is supplied to the rectifiers by a commercial electrical utility. The system also includes a number of hydrogen-powered proton exchange membranes that are operable to supply DC power directly to the facility if both the microturbine generators and the electrical utility fail. Finally, a number of super capacitors are coupled to the bus line directly connected to the facility in order to maintain power if it becomes necessary to switch power sources.

Claims

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

at least one proton exchange membrane that is operable to produce DC electrical power adaptable to power said telecommunication equipment, said at least one proton exchange membrane adapted to be powered by a fuel.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said fuel for said at least one proton exchange membrane serves as a source of hydrogen.

3. A system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said fuel is stored on site.

4. A system as set forth in claim 1, comprising:

at least one capacitor coupled to the output of said at least one proton exchange membrane.

5. The system of claim 1, comprising:

at least one microturbine generator operable to produce AC electrical power and adapted to be powered by a fuel.

6. The system of claim 5 comprising:

at least one rectifier operable to convert said AC electrical power received from said at least one microturbine generator to DC electrical power adaptable to power said telecommunication equipment.

7. The system of claim 6, comprising:

at least one capacitor coupled to the output of said at least one rectifier, said capacitor serving the purpose of avoiding power drops when switching from one energy source to another.

8. A method for supplying power to a telecommunications facility from a power supply system, said method comprising the following steps:

providing fuel to at least one proton exchange membrane, said at least one proton exchange membrane operable to produce DC electrical power; and

providing said DC electrical power produced by said at least one proton exchange membrane to said telecommunications facility.

9. A method as set forth in claim 8, comprising:

executing said providing step if an amount of power from a source of AC power to the facility falls below a predetermined value.

10. The method of claim 8, comprising:

storing a portion of said DC electrical power produced by said at least one proton exchange membrane to at least one capacitor for the purpose of maintaining power during transitioning between power sources.

11. The method of claim 8, comprising:

supplying hydrogen to at least partially accomplish said fuel-providing step.

12. The method of claim 11, comprising:

presenting said hydrogen in vaporous form.

13. A back-up DC power system for a facility comprising:

a proton exchange membrane (PEM);

a source of fuel for providing hydrogen to said PEM;

a conduit for delivering said fuel to said PEM; and

a facility power controller for triggering the delivery of said fuel to said PEM when a first backup source of power is required.

14. The system of claim 13, comprising:

a natural gas generator for generating a second backup source of power.

15. The system of claim 14, in which said generator is alternatively operable on propane.

16. The system of claim 13 in which said fuel for providing hydrogen is substantially pure hydrogen.

17. The system of claim 16 in which said substantially pure hydrogen is stored in a plurality of tanks.

18. The system of claim 17 in which said substantially pure hydrogen is maintained in vaporous form to ensure immediate availability.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein said facility power controller comprises:

a power sensor which senses the power available to at least a portion of said facility for the purpose of recognizing the need for a first backup source of power.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein said facility power controller comprises:

a programmable device.