초록 ▼

A power system (8) is provided for economically supplying uninterrupted electrical power to one or more critical loads (14). One or more fuel cell power plants (18) provide one substantially continuous source of power, and a utility grid (10) provides another source of power. The fuel cell power pla

A power system (8) is provided for economically supplying uninterrupted electrical power to one or more critical loads (14). One or more fuel cell power plants (18) provide one substantially continuous source of power, and a utility grid (10) provides another source of power. The fuel cell power plants (18) are adapted to be, and are, normally substantially continuously connected and providing power to, the critical load(s) (14). A rapidly-acting static switch (19) selectively connects and disconnects the grid power supply (10) to the critical load(s) (14) and with the fuel cell power plant(s) (18). A switch controller (49, 45) controls the state of the static switch (19) to connect the grid power source (10) with the critical load(s) (14) and the fuel cell power plant(s) (18) during normal operation of the grid (10), and to rapidly (less than 4 ms) disconnect the grid power source (10) from the load(s) (14) and fuel cell power plant(s) (18) when operation of the grid (10) deviates from normal beyond a limit.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A power system (8) for providing uninterrupted electric power to a critical load (14), comprising:a. a first power source (10) providing sufficient power to supply the critical load (14); b. a second power source (18) comprising at least one fuel cell power plant (18), the second power source pro

1. A power system (8) for providing uninterrupted electric power to a critical load (14), comprising:a. a first power source (10) providing sufficient power to supply the critical load (14); b. a second power source (18) comprising at least one fuel cell power plant (18), the second power source providing sufficient power to supply the critical load (14) and adapted to be normally substantially continuously connected and providing power to, the critical load (14); c. a static switch (19) for selectively connecting and disconnecting the first power source (10) to the second power source (18) and (to) the critical load (14); and d. a switch controller (49, 45 )for controlling the state of the static switch (19) to connect the first power source (10) with the critical load (14) and the second power source (18) during normal operation of the first power source (10) and to rapidly disconnect the first power source (10) from the critical load (14) and the second power source (18)if and when operation of the first power source (10) deviates beyond a limit from normal.