A power system is designed to provide reliable electrical power to a facility, in particular to a telecommunications facility. The system includes a number of proton exchange membranes (PEMs) adapted to provide DC power. The system is configured so that the PEMs receive fuel from a header that is supplied by a number of hydrogen generators. Storage tanks are also included to provide hydrogen to the header if the hydrogen generators fail. The hydrogen generators receive electricity initially from an array of photovoltaic panels. If the photovoltaic panels fail then AC power from a commercial utility is provided to the hydrogen generators. Finally, the system includes a number of super capacitors that are operable to maintain power during the time required to change between power sources.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/439,204 filed May 15, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,930,402.
An electrical power generation system and method for generating electrical power are provided. The electrical power generation system utilizes a master controller for controlling operation of devices coupled to an AC electrical grid and DC electrical grid based on parameter values associated with a renewable power generator.
A reliable power supply solution for a telecommunications site provides a combined primary and backup source of electrical power. One system of the power supply solution includes one or more microturbine generators operable to produce AC electrical power as well as one or more rectifiers operable convert the AC electrical power from the one or more microturbine generators to DC electrical power for supply to a DC bus. A transfer switch is electrically coupled between one or more microturbine generators and the one or more rectifiers, for selecting between the AC electrical power of the microturbine generators and incoming AC electrical power to be supplied to the rectifiers. Additionally, one or more proton exchange membranes are provided in the system for producing DC electrical power. The aforementioned power generation and supply components are coupled with the DC bus for supplying DC electrical power to telecommunications equipment coupled with the DC bus.
