Power system

• US 8,106,533 B1
• Filed: 10/19/2009
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Johnson, Larry L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford N
• Assistant Examiner(s): PARRIES, DRU M
• Application Number:
  US12/581,521
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: 307/66
• US Class Current: 307/66
• 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 telecommunications facility and/or associated devices. The system includes a DC bus adapted to receive electrical power from a primary energy source. A switch is provided for switching from the primary energy source to a secondary energy source. Additionally, the system includes one or more capacitors electrically connected into the DC bus. The one or more capacitors hold a charge so that power is maintained to the DC bus as a switch is made from the primary energy source to the secondary energy source.

Claims

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

a first energy source that provides energy to a microturbine generator system, the first energy source comprising one of natural gas and propane;

a first bus line that receives AC power from the microturbine generator system and forwards the AC power to one or more rectifiers;

a first switch that deactivates the AC power from the microturbine generator system and activates a secondary AC power source during an interruption of the AC power from the microturbine generator system;

a valve that activates a backup source to one or more fuel cell modules during an interruption of the AC power and the secondary AC power source; and

a second bus line that receives DC power from the one or more rectifiers and forwards the DC power to the facility and to one or more capacitors, wherein the one or more capacitors hold a charge such that power is maintained during any changeover time period from deactivation of a power source until subsequent activation of another power source occurs.

2. The power source system of claim 1, further comprising:

a third bus line that receives DC power from the backup source and forwards the DC power to the one or more capacitors and to the facility.

3. The power source system of claim 2, wherein the backup source comprising one or more fuel cell modules is powered by a gaseous fuel source.

4. The power source system of claim 3, wherein the one or more fuel cell modules comprise one or more proton exchange membrane fuel cell modules.

5. The power source system of claim 3, wherein the gaseous fuel source comprises hydrogen.

6. The power source system of claim 1, wherein the one or more capacitors comprise a plurality of capacitors arranged in parallel.

7. The power source system of claim 1, wherein the facility comprises a telecommunications site and the power source system maintains power to telecommunications equipment.

8. The power source system of claim 1, further comprising a sensing control mechanism that opens one power source and closes another power source, as instructed.

9. A valve and switching system that provides power to a facility, comprising:

a primary fuel valve that activates and deactivates flow of a primary fuel source to one or more microturbine generators;

a secondary fuel valve that activates flow of a secondary fuel source to the one or more microturbine generators during an interruption of the primary fuel source;

a switch that activates flow of power from an electrical utility source during an interruption of power from the one or more microturbine generators;

a bus line that provides AC power from the electrical utility source and the one or more microturbine generators to one or more rectifiers, wherein the one or more rectifiers provide DC power to the facility;

a valve that activates and deactivates flow of a gaseous fuel source to one or more fuel cell modules; and

one or more super capacitors that provide interim power to the facility during any changeover time period from deactivation of a power source until subsequent activation of another power source occurs in order to provide uninterrupted power to the facility.

10. The valve and switching system of claim 9, further comprising a sensing and control mechanism connected to the primary fuel valve, the secondary fuel valve, the switch, and the valve.

11. The valve and switching system of claim 9, wherein the one or more super capacitors are primarily powered by the one or more rectifiers.

12. The valve and switching system of claim 11, wherein the one or more fuel cell modules provide a backup source of power to the one or more super capacitors and to the facility.

13. The valve and switching system of claim 9, wherein the primary fuel source comprises natural gas and the secondary fuel source comprises propane.

14. The valve and switching system of claim 9, wherein the one or more fuel cell modules comprise one or more proton exchange membrane fuel cell modules and the gaseous fuel source comprises hydrogen.

15. The valve and switching system of claim 9, wherein the facility comprises a telecommunications site and the valve and switching system maintains power to telecommunications equipment.

16. The valve and switching system of claim 9, wherein the valve and switching system is enclosed in a modular portable container.

17. A method of providing uninterrupted power to a facility, the method comprising:

activating a primary fuel source to one or more microturbine generators;

activating a secondary fuel source to the one or more microturbine generators when the primary fuel source has been deactivated;

activating an electrical power source when the primary fuel source and the secondary fuel source have been deactivated;

activating a gaseous fuel source to one or more fuel cell modules when the primary fuel source, the secondary fuel source, and the electrical power source have been deactivated; and

activating one or more super capacitors during any changeover time period from deactivation of a power source until a subsequent activation of another power source occurs;

wherein uninterrupted power is provided to the facility.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein power produced by the one or more microturbine generators and the electrical power source is converted from AC power to DC power via one or more rectifiers, wherein the one or more rectifiers provide DC power to the facility and to the one or more super capacitors.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the facility comprises a telecommunications site and the method maintains power to telecommunications equipment.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the primary fuel source, the secondary fuel source, the electrical power source, the gaseous fuel source, and the one or more super capacitors are activated and deactivated via a sensing and control mechanism.