Power system for a telecommunication facility
View Patent ↗Disclosed is a method of supplying DC power to equipment using proton exchange membranes (PEMs). PEMs run on hydrogen to produce DC electrical power. In the disclosed embodiment these PEMs are used as an alternative source of power to AC sources. One of these other sources is generated by an array of gas turbines. Another source is provided by a commercial utility. AC from these sources is converted using rectifiers. Capacitors are used to bridge when switching between energy sources.
1. A method of providing electrical power at a site, said site requiring the use of power-consuming computing devices, said method comprising:
storing a supply of hydrogen at the site; and
providing a fuel cell, said fuel cell being adapted to consume said hydrogen and produce a DC power output to serve as a second power source in the event a first source of power is not available.
2. The method of claim 1 comprising:
directing said DC power output from said fuel cell into a circuit;
including a capacitor in said circuit to maintain power to said site in the event that neither said first source of power nor said DC power output is available.
3. The method of claim 1 comprising:
using a plurality of hydrogen storage tanks to accomplish said step of storing a supply of hydrogen at a site.
4. The method of claim 1 comprising:
receiving said first source of power from a utility.
5. The method of claim 4 comprising:
providing a microturbine adapted to selectively produce as an output electrical power at least part of the time said utility is unavailable.