Fuel cell systems and methods for providing power and cooling to an energy-consuming device

A method of providing power and cooling to an energy-consuming device with a fuel cell system containing a hydrogen storage device, the method comprising:

• desorbing hydrogen gas from a volume of hydrogen storage material of a hydride bed of the hydrogen storage device, wherein the desorbing includes delivering a heated air stream heated by the energy-consuming device to the hydrogen storage device to heat the hydrogen storage material;
• utilizing the endothermic process of the desorbing hydrogen gas from the volume of hydrogen storage material to cool the energy-consuming device, wherein the utilizing includes delivering a cooled air stream from the hydrogen storage device to the energy-consuming device, wherein the heated air stream and the cooled air stream form a closed loop heat exchange system between the hydrogen storage device and the energy-consuming device;
• wherein the energy-consuming device includes a telecommunications installation, wherein the telecommunications installation includes an enclosure, and wherein the delivering the cooled air stream includes delivering the cooled air stream to an interior of the enclosure;
• delivering desorbed hydrogen gas from the hydrogen storage device to a fuel cell stack;
• producing, by the fuel cell stack, an electrical output from the desorbed hydrogen gas and an oxidant;
• powering the energy-consuming device with the electrical output from the fuel cell stack;
• and wherein the method further comprises:
• initiating production of hydrogen gas by a fuel processor responsive to detecting unavailability of a primary power source, wherein initiating occurs for a fuel processor start-up period of time;
• generating, by the fuel processor, hydrogen gas from a feed stream containing at least a carbon-containing feedstock;
• and
• after the fuel processor start-up period of time, delivering hydrogen gas from the fuel processor to the fuel cell stack for producing the electrical output.