Fuel cell system with inverter and phase change material

• US 7,352,578 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2005
• Issued: 04/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2005
• 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, Gerald D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thompson; Gregory D
• Application Number:
  US11/224,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20070058348A1
• Time in Patent Office: 932 Days
• Field of Search: 361/700
• US Class Current: 361/700
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/04052 Storage of heat in the fuel cell system
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/10 Applications of fuel cells in buildings
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

The present invention is a back-up power supply of alternating current and direct current, with the alternating current being generated by an inverter from the direct current, which is produced by a fuel cell. The inverter is at least partially encompassed by a phase changing material having an elevated melting point such that the phase changing material absorbs heat generated by the inverter as well as in the surrounding air, thereby maintaining the inverter temperature within acceptable limits. As the phase changing material absorbs the heat, its temperature rises and melts. Upon cooling of the system, the phase change material re-solidifies.

Claims

1. A power system for meeting alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) demands at a telecommunications site, comprising:

a source of alternating current (AC), said source connected to an AC demand and to a DC demand via a rectifier;

a back-up source of direct current (DC) connected directly to said DC demand; and

an inverter connected to said back-up source of DC for converting at least a portion of DC to AC for supply to said AC demand, and wherein said inverter is at least partially encompassed by a phase changing material capable of absorbing heat from said inverter and surrounding ambient air.

2. The power system of claim 1 wherein said back-up source of DC is a fuel cell.

3. The power system of claim 2 wherein said fuel cell is supplied with stored hydrogen.

4. The power system of claim 1 wherein said material absorbs heat from said inverter and said surrounding ambient air, thereby raising the temperature of said state changing material above its melting point such that said material changes state from solid to liquid.

5. The power system of claim 4 wherein said changing of state of said material occurs at a temperature of approximately 27-29 degrees Celsius.

6. The power system of claim 1 wherein said inverter is located in a cabinet adjacent to said back-up source of DC with said phase changing material located generally along the inside walls of said cabinet.

7. The power system of claim 1, wherein the DC demand comprises telecommunications equipment.

8. A method for meeting alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) demands at a site, comprising:

electronically coupling a source of alternating current (AC) to an AC demand and to a DC demand via a rectifier;

electronically coupling a back-up source of direct current (DC) directly to said DC demand;

electronically coupling an inverter to said back-up source of DC to convert at least a portion of DC to AC, said inverter at least partially surrounded with a phase changing material for absorbing heat created by operation of said inverter;

electronically coupling said inverter to said AC demand;

providing AC power to said AC demand via said source of AC;

providing DC power to said DC demand via said source of AC and said rectifier;

providing AC power to said AC demand via said back-up source of DC and said inverter when said source of AC is not available; and

providing DC power to said DC demand via said back-up source of DC when said source of AC is not available.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said back-up source of DC is a fuel cell.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said fuel cell is supplied with stored hydrogen.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the heat absorbed by the phase changing material causes a change of state thereof from solid to liquid occurring at a temperature of approximately 27-29 degrees Celsius.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the site is a wireless telecommunications station.