Power system for a device

• US 7,875,995 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2008
• Issued: 01/25/2011
• 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): Fureman; Jared J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Parries; Dru M
• Application Number:
  US12/116,598
• Publication Number:
  US 20080203822A1
• Time in Patent Office: 993 Days
• Field of Search: 307/65
• US Class Current: 307/65
• 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 is designed for providing reliable electrical power to a facility and/or associated devices. The system includes one or more fuel cells and a circuit adapted to receive power from the one or more fuel cells. The circuit is electrically connected to a device receiving the electrical power from the system. Additionally, the system includes one or more capacitors included in the circuit, and being adapted for maintaining power in the circuit when the one or more fuel cells are temporarily unavailable.

Claims

1. A system for maintaining power to a device of a telecommunications facility, said system comprising:

one or more fuel cells;

a circuit adapted to receive power from said one or more fuel cells, said circuit electrically connected into said device;

one or more capacitors included in said circuit, said one or more capacitors adapted to be able to maintain power in said circuit when said one or more fuel cells are temporarily unavailable;

an AC power source included in the circuit;

a rectifier to convert an electrical output of the AC source and to provide converted DC power to the one or more capacitors; and

a mobile power platform comprising;

one or more input couplings for connection to one or more fuel storage supplies;

an input coupling for connection to a natural gas supply;

an input coupling for connection to an electrical utility supply; and

an output coupling for connection to the telecommunications facility.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said one or more capacitors are adapted to maintain power when both of said one or more fuel cells and said AC power source are temporarily unavailable.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said AC source is electrical power derived from a utility.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said AC source is a turbine generator.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said AC source comprises a natural gas powered microturbine as a primary AC source and a propane powered microturbine as a secondary AC source.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said one or more fuel cells are adapted to receive hydrogen from a storage tank.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said device includes telecommunications equipment.