Wireless Power

Transmission for Solar

Power Satellites
Presented by
Subham Kumar, Poly-DEEE
”6th Sem, Sec- “c
AJU/201257/064
Outline
● Background
● Solar Power Satellite
● Microwave Power Transmission
● Current Designs
● Conclusion
Background
1899-1990
 Nikola Tesla
● 1856-1943
● Innovations:
– Alternating current
– Wireless power
transmission
experiments at
Wardenclyffe
Wardenclyffe
● 1899
– Able to light lamps
over 25 miles away
without using wires
– High frequency
current, of a Tesla
coil, could light lamps
filled with gas (like
neon)
 1940’s to Present

● World War II developed ability to convert

energy to microwaves using a
magnetron, no method for converting
microwaves back to electricity
● 1964 William C. Brown demonstrated a
rectenna which could convert microwave
power to electricity
 Brief History of Solar Power

● 1940-50’s Development of the Photovoltaic cell

● 1958 First US Satellite that used Solar Power

● 1970’s Oil embargo brought increased interest
and study
 Details of the DOE Study
● Construct the satellites in space
– Each SPS would have 400 million solar cells
● Use the Space Shuttle to get pieces to a
low orbit station
● Tow pieces to the assembly point using a
purpose built space tug (similar to space
shuttle)
 Advantages over Earth based
solar power
● More intense sunlight
● In geosynchronous orbit, 36,000 km (22,369
miles) an SPS would be illuminated over 99%
of the time
● No need for costly storage devices for when
the sun is not in view.
 Continued

● Waste heat is radiated back into space

● No air or water pollution is created during

generation
 Problems

● Issues identified during the DOE study

– Complexity—30 years to complete
– Size—6.5 miles long by 3.3 miles wide
● Transmitting antenna ½ mile in
diameter(1 km)
 NASA Fresh Look Report
● SPS could be competitive with other energy
sources and deserves further study
● Research aimed at an SPS system of 250 MW
● Would cost around $10 billion and take 20
years
● National Research Council found the research
worthwhile but under funded to achieve its
goals
 Deployment Issues

● Cost of transporting materials into space

● Construction of satellite
– Space Walks
● Maintenance
– Routine
– Meteor impacts
Microwave Power Transmission
How the power gets
to Earth
 From the Satellite
● Solar power from the satellite is sent to
Earth using a microwave transmitter
● Received at a “rectenna” located on
Earth
● Recent developments suggest that
power could be sent to Earth using a
laser
 Microwave vs. Laser Transmission
● Microwave ● Laser
– More developed – Recently developed solid
– High efficiency up to 85% state lasers allow efficient
– Beams is far below the transfer of power
lethal levels of – Range of 10% to 20%
concentration even for a efficiency within a few
prolonged exposure years
– Cause interference with – Conform to limits on eye
satellite communication and skin damage
industry
 Rectenna
“An antenna comprising a mesh of dipoles and diodes
for absorbing microwave energy from a transmitter
and converting it into electric power.”
● Microwaves are received with about 85%
efficiency
● Around 5km across (3.1 miles)
● 95% of the beam will fall on the rectenna
 Conclusions

● More reliable than ground based solar power

● In order for SPS to become a reality it
several things have to happen:
– Government support
– Cheaper launch prices
– Involvement of the private sector