Cell site power generation

• US 8,729,732 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2008
• Issued: 05/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Fischer, Steve
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Fritz M
• Application Number:
  US12/170,675
• Publication Number:
  US 20100009724A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,140 Days
• Field of Search: 307 64- 68, 363/69, 320/123
• US Class Current: 307/66
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/10 Parallel operation of dc sources
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/066 characterised by the use of dynamo-electric machines H02J9/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 Arrangements for maintaining operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0206 in access points, e.g. base stations access point devices per se H04W88/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/08 Access point devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A system, apparatus, method, and manufacture for generating backup power in a wireless communications system such as a wireless communications service base station. The system includes a communications interface, a primary power interface, a generator, rectifiers, and a battery circuit. During normal operation, the communications interface is powered from the primary power interface. During a power outage, the communications interface is powered from either the generator or the battery circuit. The generator is cycled on and off during power outages to charge the battery circuit while conserving fuel. To decrease rectification loss, rectifiers are run near full load while rectifying the generator output.

Claims

1. A system for generating power, comprising:

a communications interface configured to communicatively couple a wireless interface to a telecommunications back-haul;

multiple power sources, each coupled to the communications interface, wherein the multiple power sources include;

a primary power interface configured to provide power from a primary power source to the communications interface;

a back-up generator, wherein the back-up generator is configured to be selectively enabled to generate power and to provide generated power to the communications interface, to a battery circuit, or both; and

the battery circuit, wherein the battery circuit is configured to selectively provide power to the communications interface;

a rectifier and switch circuit, coupled to the each of the multiple power sources, and configured to selectively switch power from among the multiple power sources and from the multiple power sources to the communications interface,

wherein the rectifier and switch circuit includes;

multiple rectifiers selectively coupled to the commercial power interface and the back-up generator, and configured to selectively rectify power from the commercial power interface or from the back-up generator; and

a power controller, coupled to the rectifier and switch circuit and at least the back-up generation, wherein the power controller is configured to individually enable and disable multiple rectifiers based, at least in part, on an availability status of the primary power source; and

wherein the power controller is configured to control the switching of the rectifier and switch circuit and to enable and disable the back-up generator.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the power controller is further configured to enable and disable the back-up generator based on a sensed voltage of the battery circuit and on an operational status of the telecommunications back-haul.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the rectifier and switch circuit includes:

multiple rectifiers each configured to selectively rectify power from the primary power interface and/or from the back-up generator.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the battery circuit includes a string of serially connected absorbed glass mat lead-acid batteries, and wherein the generator is at least one of a gasoline generator, a diesel generator, a propane generator, a natural gas generator, a methanol generator, or an ethanol generator.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the battery circuit includes:

a first battery having at least a positive terminal and a negative terminal;

a second battery having at least a positive terminal and a negative terminal;

a first jumper configured to connect the negative terminal of the first battery to the positive terminal of the second battery; and

an opto-isolator circuit configured to sense a voltage potential between the negative terminal of the first battery and the negative terminal of the second battery or between the positive terminal of the first battery and the positive terminal of the second battery, and wherein the power controller is further configured to detect a battery circuit failure based, at least in part, on a rate of change of the sensed voltage.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the power controller is further configured to enable the back-up generator if a sensed voltage of the battery circuit represents that the battery circuit has less than approximately a twenty percent charge, and to disable the back-up generator if the sensed voltage of the battery circuit represents that the battery circuit has more than approximately an eighty-two percent charge.

7. An apparatus for providing generated power to a wireless communications system, comprising:

a rectifier and switch circuit configured to selectively switch power from among multiple power sources and from the multiple power sources to a telecommunications system interface, wherein the rectifier and switch circuit includes;

multiple rectifiers each configured to selectively rectify power from at least two power sources of the multiple power sources; and

a power controller configured to individually switch in and out each of the multiple rectifiers based, at least in part, on an availability status of at least one power source of the multiple power sources.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

a system interface; and

multiple power sources, including;

a primary power interface configured to provide power from a primary power source to the system interface;

a generator; and

a battery circuit, wherein the generator is configured to be selectively enabled to generate power and to provide generated power to the system interface, to the battery circuit, or both; and

wherein the battery circuit is configured to selectively provide power to the system interface; and

wherein the multiple rectifiers are each further configured to selectively rectify power from the primary power interface and/or from the generator;

wherein the power controller is further configured to individually enable or disable each of the multiple rectifiers based, at least in part, on an availability status of the primary power source; and

wherein the power controller is further configured to enable and disable the generator.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the battery circuit includes a string of serially connected absorbed glass mat lead-acid batteries.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the generator is at least one of a gasoline generator, a diesel generator, a propane generator, a natural gas generator, a methanol generator, or an ethanol generator;

and wherein the generator is at least one of an air-cooled generator or a liquid-cooled generator.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

a management interface configured to communicate operational data from at least one of a battery circuit, generator, primary power interface, or the rectifier and switch circuit to a remote system.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the power controller is further configured to selectively enable and disable a generator based, at least in part, on a sensed voltage of a backup battery circuit.

13. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the power controller is further configured to selectively enable and disable a back-up generator based, at least in part, on a received operational status.

14. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the power controller is further configured to enable a backup generator if a sensed voltage of a battery circuit represents that the battery circuit has less than approximately a twenty percent charge, and to disable the generator if the sensed voltage of the battery circuit represents that the battery circuit has more than approximately an eighty-two percent charge.

15. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a battery circuit, and wherein the battery circuit includes:

a first battery having at least a first terminal and a second terminal;

a second battery having at least a first terminal and a second terminal;

a first jumper configured to connect the second terminal of the first battery to the first terminal of the second battery; and

a monitoring circuit configured to sense a voltage potential between the second terminal of the first battery and the second terminal of the second battery, and wherein the power controller is further configured to detect a battery circuit failure based, at least in part, on a rate of change of the sensed voltage.

16. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a battery circuit, and wherein the battery circuit includes:

a first battery having at least a first terminal and a second terminal;

a second battery having at least a first terminal and a second terminal;

a first jumper configured to connect the second terminal of the first battery to the first terminal of the second battery; and

an opto-isolator circuit configured to sense a voltage potential between the second terminal of the first battery and the second terminal of the second battery, and wherein the power controller is further configured to detect a battery circuit failure based, at least in part, on a rate of change of the sensed voltage.

17. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the power controller further includes a watchdog circuit and wherein the power controller is further configured to enable or disable the generator based, in part, on an output of the watchdog circuit.

18. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the power controller further includes a watchdog circuit and wherein the power controller is further configured to enable or disable the generator based, in part, on an output of the watchdog circuit.

19. An apparatus for providing generated power to a wireless communications system, comprising:

a rectifier and switch means for selectively switching power from among multiple power sources and from the multiple power sources to a telecommunications system interface, wherein the rectifier and switch means includes;

multiple rectifier means for selectively rectifying power from at least two power sources of the multiple power sources; and

a power controller means for individually switching in and out each of the multiple rectifier means based, at least in part, on an availability status of at least one power source of the multiple power sources.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the power sources include a string of serially connected absorbed glass mat lead-acid batteries.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

a management interface means for communicating operational data from at least one of a battery circuit, a backup generator, a primary power interface, or the rectifier and switch means to a remote system.

22. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the power sources include at least one of a gasoline generator, a diesel generator, a propane generator, a natural gas generator, a methanol generator, or an ethanol generator;

and wherein the generator is at least one of an air-cooled generator or a liquid-cooled generator.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the power controller means is further configured to selectively enable and disable a generator based, at least in part, on a sensed voltage of a backup battery circuit.

24. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the power controller means is further configured to selectively enable and disable a generator based, at least in part, on a received operational status.

25. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the power controller includes means for enabling a generator if a sensed voltage of the battery circuit represents that the battery circuit has less than approximately a twenty percent charge, and to disable the generator if the sensed voltage of the battery circuit represents that the battery circuit has more than approximately an eighty-two percent charge.

26. A method of providing generated power to a wireless communications cell site having a transceiver and associated telecommunications components, the method comprising:

while receiving power from a primary power source, rectifying the primary source power employing a first plurality of rectifiers from a set of rectifiers,

wherein the first plurality of rectifiers is based, at least in part, to achieve a predetermined operating temperature of the first plurality of rectifiers, and

wherein each of the rectifiers within the first plurality of rectifiers is coupled in parallel between the primary power source and at least one output terminal to supply power to the telecommunications components of the wireless communications cell site;

determining an availability status of the primary power source;

selectively enabling and disabling a generator to generate power based, at least in part, on the availability status; and

while employing the generator to generate power, rectifying the generated power employing a second plurality of rectifiers from the set of rectifiers,

wherein the second plurality of rectifiers is based, at least in part, on increasing rectification efficiency, and

wherein each of the rectifiers within the second plurality of rectifiers is coupled in parallel between the generator and the output terminal to supply power to the telecommunications components of the wireless communications cell site.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

routing at least power from the primary power source, generated power, or stored power to a communications interface.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

employing a battery circuit to store generated power;

sensing a voltage of the battery circuit;

determining a rate of change of the voltage; and

determining a failure condition of the battery circuit based, at least in part, on the rate of change of the voltage.

29. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

employing a battery circuit to store generated power;

sensing a voltage of the battery circuit;

if the sensed voltage represents that the battery circuit has less than approximately a 20 percent charge, enabling the generator; and

if the sensed voltage of the battery circuit represents that the battery circuit has more than approximately an 82 percent charge, disabling the generator.

30. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

receiving an operational status of a back-haul that is coupled to a communications interface; and

selectively employing the generator based, at least in part, on the received operational status of the back-haul.