Fuel cell system for information technology loads

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11799316-B2
Application number	US-202017002393-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 25, 2020
Priority date	Feb 25, 2016
Publication date	Oct 24, 2023
Grant date	Oct 24, 2023

Abstract

A fuel cell system having a power module including at least one fuel cell segment, an input output module including at least one inverter, a rectifier, and an electric distribution module having at least a first electrical connector and a second electrical connector. The at least one fuel cell segment may be electrically connected to the at least one inverter and may be electrically connected to an information technology (IT) load via a split bus. The at least one inverter may be electrically connected to an alternating current (AC) source via the first electrical connector of the electric distribution module. The rectifier may be electrically connected to the AC source via the second electrical connector of the electric distribution module and may be electrically connected to the IT load via the split bus.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fuel cell system, comprising:
a power module comprising at least one fuel cell segment;
an input output module comprising at least one inverter;
an A-side output module (AOM) comprising a DC/DC converter;
a rectifier; and
an electric distribution module comprising at least a first electrical connector and a second electrical connector;
wherein:
the at least one fuel cell segment comprises a B-side output which is electrically connected to a direct current (DC) side of the at least one inverter;
the at least one fuel cell segment further comprises an A-side output which is electrically connected to an input of the AOM;
an output of the AOM is electrically connected to an information technology (IT) load via a split bus;
an alternating current (AC) side of the at least one inverter is electrically connected to an alternating current (AC) source via the first electrical connector of the electric distribution module; and
the rectifier is electrically connected at an AC side to the AC source via the second electrical connector of the electric distribution module and is electrically connected at a DC side to the split bus between the output of the AOM and the IT load, such that the rectifier is electrically connected to the IT load via the split bus.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the output of the AOM comprises an output of the DC/DC converter, and the DC/DC converter is electrically connected between the at least one fuel cell segment and the IT load.

3. The system of claim 2 , further comprising a standby power module electrically connected between the at least one fuel cell segment and the DC/DC converter, and configured to be activated when the IT load does not receive sufficient power.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the electric distribution module further comprises a third electrical connector electrically connected between the AC source and the first and second electrical connectors; and
the first, second, and third electrical connectors comprise breakers.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising
a transformer electrically connected between the AC source and the rectifier;
a plurality of current flow control devices, wherein each of the plurality of current flow control devices is electrically connected to the split bus between the IT device and the power module or the transformer and are configured to prevent opposite polarity current flow on the split bus.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the power module is configured to provide at least all necessary power to power the IT device; and
the AC source is configured to provide less than all necessary power to the IT device.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the power module is fluidly connected to a natural gas well via an outlet conduit and a fuel inlet conduit, and configured to separate CO 2 from an exhaust produced by operation of the power module, to transfer the CO 2 to the natural gas well via the outlet conduit, and receive natural gas via the fuel inlet conduit.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the power module is fluidly connected to an algae farm well via an outlet conduit and a fuel inlet conduit, and configured to separate CO 2 from an exhaust produced by operation of the power module, to transfer the CO 2 to the algae farm via the outlet conduit, and receive biofuel via the fuel inlet conduit.

9. A fuel cell system, comprising:
a power module comprising at least one fuel cell segment;
an input output module comprising at least one inverter;
a transformer; and
an electric distribution module comprising an output bus and at least a first electrical connector and a second electrical connector;
wherein:
the at least one fuel cell segment is electrically connected to the at least one inverter and is electrically connected to an information technology (IT) load via a first bus;
the at least one inverter is electrically connected at an alternating current (AC) side to a first end of the first electrical connector of the electric distribution module and is electrically connected to an alternating current (AC) source via the first electrical connector of the electric distribution module;
the transformer is electrically connected to a first end of the second electrical connector of the electric distribution module, is electrically connected to the AC source via the second electrical connector of the electric distribution module, and electrically connected to the IT load via a second bus,
the output bus is electrically connected between a second end of the first electrical connector and a second end of the second electrical connector; and
the AC source is electrically connected to the output bus between the second end of the first electrical connector and the second end of the second electrical connector.

10. The system of claim 9 , further comprising an A-side output module (AOM) having a DC/DC converter, wherein the DC/DC converter is electrically connected between the at least one fuel cell segment and the IT load.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein:
the IT load is a dual corded IT load configured to receive DC power on an A-side of the IT load and AC power on a B-side of the IT load;
the power module is configured to provide at least all necessary power to power the IT device; and
the AC source is configured to provide at least all necessary power to the IT device.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the power module is fluidly connected to a natural gas well via an outlet conduit and a fuel inlet conduit, and configured to separate CO 2 from an exhaust produced by operation of the power module, to transfer the CO 2 to the natural gas well via the outlet conduit, and receive natural gas via the fuel inlet conduit.

13. The system of claim 9 , wherein the power module is fluidly connected to an algae farm well via an outlet conduit and a fuel inlet conduit, and configured to separate CO 2 from an exhaust produced by operation of the power module, to transfer the CO 2 to the algae farm via the outlet conduit, and receive biofuel via the fuel inlet conduit.

14. A fuel cell system, comprising:
a power module comprising a plurality of fuel cell segments;
a CO 2 separator for providing separated CO 2 ;
an input output module comprising at least one inverter;
an A-side output module (AOM) comprising a DC/DC converter;
a rectifier; and
an electric distribution module comprising at least a first electrical connector and a second electrical connector;
wherein:
the plurality of fuel cell segments are connected by a fuel input to a hydrocarbon fuel from a natural gas well or an algae farm at the fuel cell system, and are connected by a fuel exhaust to the CO 2 separator;
the plurality of fuel cell segments comprise a B-side output which is electrically connected to a direct current (DC) side of the at least one inverter;
the plurality of fuel cell segments further comprise an A-side output which is electrically connected to an input of the AOM;
an output of the AOM is electrically connected to an information technology (IT) load via a split bus;
the CO 2 separator is connected to the natural gas well or the algae farm for providing the separated CO 2 to the natural gas well or the algae farm;
an alternating current (AC) side of the at least one inverter is electrically connected to an alternating current (AC) source via the first electrical connector of the electric distribution module; and
the rectifier is electrically connected at an AC side to the AC source via the second electrical connector of the electric distribution module and is electrically connected at a DC side t

Assignees

• Bloom Energy Corp

Inventors

• Gross Peter
• Cottuli Carl
• Ballantine Arne

Classifications

• H02J2101/30

  Fuel cells · CPC title

• H02J9/061 Primary

  for DC powered loads · CPC title

• G06F1/263

  Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC (G06F1/30 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F1/30

  Means for acting in the event of power-supply failure or interruption, e.g. power-supply fluctuations (for resetting only G06F1/24) · CPC title

• H01M8/0612

  from carbon-containing material · CPC title