Patent ID: 7982340

Claim:
A system for maintaining DC power to a telecommunications facility comprising: means on a circuit for accommodating at least one power distribution unit (PDU), wherein said at least one PDU is connected to a primary DC bus; said at least one PDU that supplies said DC power to telecommunications equipment; means on said circuit for accepting a primary DC power source that provides power to said circuit via said primary DC bus unless said primary DC power source fails, wherein said primary DC power source is derived from one of a commercial electrical power utility or an electric generator; a plurality of fuel cells organized into a first bank of fuel cells and a second bank of fuel cells, wherein the first and second banks of fuel cells are configured to supply DC power to a backup DC bus, wherein the backup DC bus is electrically connected to said primary DC bus as a secondary DC power source for said circuit, wherein said backup DC bus provides power to said circuit if said primary DC power source fails to provide voltage above a predetermined voltage requirement; a plurality of fuel tanks comprising a first group of storage tanks and a second group of storage tanks, wherein said first bank of fuel cells is supplied only by said first group of storage tanks, and wherein said second bank of fuel cells is supplied only by said second group of storage tanks; and at least one capacitor included on said backup DC bus that facilitates bridging during fuel cell startup.