Backup power hierarchy for a facility system
View Patent ↗A system is disclosed which accomplishes a method of providing backup power to a device in a facility. The method includes using turbines to combusting a fuel to generate a primary power source. If this source fails, a secondary source of power is obtained from a commercial utility. If the commercial utility is not available, power is generated by a proton exchange membrane. Proton exchange membranes generate power by noncombustibly consuming hydrogen. Capacitors are used to maintain power when the system switches between energy sources.
1. A method of providing electrical power comprising:
providing a first power source by one of:
consuming a fuel in a microturbine adapted to produce as an output electrical power, and
deriving alternating current from a commercial utility;
automatically switching to a second power source upon failure of said first power source; and
generating said second power source by noncombustibly consuming a gas with one or more fuel cells.
2. The method of claim 1 comprising:
bridging any drop in power caused by said automatic switching using a power storage device.
3. The method of claim 2 comprising:
providing a capacitor to serve as said power storage device.
4. The method of claim 1 comprising:
converting the first power source to DC power via a rectifier.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the fuel consumed in the microtubine is one or more of propane and natural gas.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more fuel cells are proton exchange membranes.