WITRICITY

WIRELESS ELECTRICITY USING MAGNETIC RESONANCE

CH Roja
Electrical & Electronics Engineering
GMRIT
Rajam, AP
rojach02@gmail.com

AbstractThis paper deals with a new mode of

generation of power i.e. wireless electricity. Witricity or
wireless energy is the transfer of electrical energy without
using wires. At present electrical generation system more than
half of the energy gets wasted till it reaches for utilization.
And moreover there is a rapid development in the electronics
such as mobiles, laptops, robots and various equipment which
rely on battery power. As these technologies are becoming
present generation needs therefore wireless energy would be
useful for powering up these devices since they need mid
range energy. We propose the use of a new technology, based
on strongly coupled magnetic resonance. It consists of a
transmitter, a current carrying copper coil, which acts as an
electromagnetic resonator and a receiver, another copper coil
of similar dimensions to which the device to be powered is
attached. The transmitter emits a non-radiative magnetic
field resonating at MHz frequencies, and the receiving unit
resonates in that field. Using wireless electricity this would be
helpful as there wouldnt be any need to replace batteries as
energy could be transferred from one sensor to other. .
Present day wireless transmission and reception are, Dr
Nichola Tesla based this shows indeed he is the Father of
Wireless.

Fig. 1

Keywords wireless energy transfer; near field;

evanescent wave, magnetic resonance; self-resonance

But this idea was adjourned as the effects of transmitting

such high voltages in electric arcs would have been
disastrous to human beings and nearby electrical
equipment. Similarly William C Brown demonstrated a
micro wave powered model helicopter in 1964. This
receives all the power needed for flight from a micro wave
beam. In 1975 Bill Brown transmitted 30kW power over a
distance of 1 mile at 84% efficiency without using cables.
Researchers developed several technique for moving
electricity over long distance without wires. Some exist
only as theories or prototypes, but others are already in use.
Consider an example, in this electric devices recharging
without any plug-in. The device which can be recharged is
placed on a charger. Supply is given to the charger and
there is no electrical contact between charger and device.
The recharging takes place in following steps.
1. Current from the wall outlet flows through a coil
Inside the charger, creating a magnetic field. In a
transformer, this coil is called the primary winding.
2. When the device placed on the charger, the
magnetic field induces a current in another coil, or
secondary winding, which connects to the battery.
3. This current recharges the battery.

I. ORIGINATION
The wireless power inventor Nichola Tesla performed the
first experiments at the turn of the 20th century. Nichola
Tesla one of these scientists, had a vision for wireless
world in which wireless electric power would reach around
the world delivering information and power to ships at sea,
factories and even home on the planet. Nichola Tesla had
devised a type of resonant transformer called Tesla coil in
the year 1899.A major popularity came through his work
when he transmitted 100 million volts of electric power
wireless over a distance of 26 miles to light up a bank of
200 light bulbs and run one electric motor. Tesla claimed to
achieve around 95% efficiency. Tesla claimed to be able to
transmit power on a worldwide scale, using a method that
involved conduction efficiency. Tesla claimed to be able to
transmit power on a worldwide scale, using a method that
involved conduction through the Earth and atmosphere.The
proposal suggested that receiving stations would consist of
terminals suspended in the air at above 30,000 feet
(9,100 m) in altitude, where the pressure is lower than at sea
level. At this altitude, Tesla claimed, electricity could be
sent at high voltages (millions of volts) over long distances.

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Fig. 2
Fig. 3

II. PRINCIPLE OF WIRICITY

III. COULPLING

Resonant inductive coupling is the near field wireless

transmission of electrical energy between two magnetically
coupled coils that are part of resonant circuits tuned
to resonate at the same frequency. This process occurs in a
resonant transformer, an electrical component which
consists of two high Q coils wound on the same core
with capacitors connected across the winding to make two
coupled LC circuits. Resonant transformers are widely
used in radio circuits as band pass filters, and in switching
power supplies. Resonant inductive coupling is also being
used in wireless power systems. Here the two LC
circuits are in different devices; a transmitter coil in one
device transmits electric power across an intervening space
to a resonant receiver coil in another device. This
technology is being developed for powering and charging
portable devices such as cell phones and tablet computers
at a distance, without being tethered to an outlet. Thus, the
main idea behind the working is electromagnetic resonance
between two circuits. The Electrical resonance occurs in an
electrical circuit at a particular resonance frequency when
the impedance between input and output of the circuit is
minimum. Often this happens when the impedance
between the input and output of the circuit is almost zero.
As an LC circuit is formed there is always tendency of
exchanging their reactive powers. Resonance of a circuit
involving capacitors and inductors occurs because the
collapsing magnetic field of the inductor generates an
electric current in its winding that charges the capacitor,
and then the discharging capacitor provides an electric
current that builds the magnetic field in the inductor, and
the process is repeated continually. Formula of resonance
frequency:

NEAR FIELD INDUCTIVE COUPLING

Unlike the previously used far field electromagnetic waves,
we propose the use of near field inductive coupling
through magnetic resonance. A near field is the region
around the source of electromagnetic radiation within a
radius r << , where is the wavelength of the transmitted
wave. The total energy per unit area at a distance r from the
transmitter is proportional to 1/r2. Since the receiver is
within a very small radius of the transmitter, most of the
transmitted energy appears at the receiving end. Thus,
losses are less. Another advantage of using near fields is
that energy is available to the receiver only if the energy is
tapped, and this is sensed by the transmitter by means of
answering electromagnetic near fields emanated by the
receiver. This is different from the far field, which draws
energy constantly from the transmitter, whether it is
immediately received, or not. This non-radiative energy
transfer is mediated through evanescent waves. The
theoretical realization of the scheme, Fig. 4, consists of two
self-resonant coils. One coil (the source coil 2S) is coupled
inductively to an oscillating circuit; the other (the device
coil 2D) is coupled inductively to a resistive load.
Fig. 4. Theoretical model for self-resonant coils 2A is a
single copper loop of radius 25 cm that is part of the
driving circuit, which outputs a sine wave with frequency 1
MHz. 2D is a loop of wire attached to the load (light bulb).
The various Ks represent direct coupling constants
between the objects indicated by the arrows. The direct
coupling constants between 2B and 2A and between 2B
and 2S are negligible.

Where, = 2f, in which f is the resonance frequency in

hertz, L is the inductance in henries, and C is the
capacitance in farads when standard SI units are used.
Fig. 4

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EVANESCENT WAVE COUPLING

An evanescent wave is a damped wave, whose power
exponentially decays with an increase in distance.
Evanescence basically means tending to vanish. The
wave is most intense within a distance of one-third
wavelength from an electromagnetic source.Evanescent
wave coupling is accomplished by placing two or more
electromagnetic elements close together so that the
evanescent field generated by one element does not
decay much before it reaches the other element.
Referring to Fig. 5, in evanescent wave coupling, both the
transmitter and receiver emit evanescent waves of the same
frequency. However, they are traveling in opposite
directions. This forms a standing wave, which facilitates
efficient transfer of energy between the transmitter and
receiver. Initially, the energy is being transmitted from the
transmitter to the receiver. As the receiver utilizes
this energy, the standing wave collapses. This process
repeats itself and the energy is transferred in bursts.

Fig. 4
A capacitance plate, which can hold a charge, attaches to
each end of the coil. As electricity travels through this coil,
the coil begins to resonate. Its resonant frequency is a
product of the inductance of the coil and the capacitance of
the plates. The wireless power project uses a curved coil
and capacitive plates. Electricity, travelling along an
electromagnetic wave, can tunnel from one coil to the other
as long as they both have the same resonant frequency. In a
short theoretical analysis these can be demonstrated by
sending electromagnetic waves around in a highly angular
waveguide, evanescent waves are produced which carry no
energy. An evanescent wave is near field standing wave
exhibiting exponential decay with distance. If a proper
resonant waveguide is brought near the transmitter, the
evanescent waves can allow the energy to tunnel
specifically evanescent wave coupling, the electromagnetic
equivalent of tunneling to the power drawing waveguide,
where they can be rectified into DC power. Since the
electromagnetic waves would tunnel, they would not
propagate through the air to be absorbed or dissipated, and
would not disrupt electronic devices. The multiple-layer
secondary of a non-resonant transformer, such receiving
coils are single layer solenoids with closely spaced
capacitor plates on each end, which in combination allow
the coil to be tuned to the transmitter frequency thereby
eliminating the wide energy wasting "wave problem" and
allowing the energy used to focus in on a specific
frequency increasing the range.
LONG DISTANCE WIRELESS POWER : Whether or not
it incorporates resonance, induction generally sends power
over relatively short distances. But some plans for wireless
power involve moving electricity over a span of miles. A
few proposals even involve sending power to Earth from
space. In the 1980s, Canada's Communications Research
Centre created a small airplane that could run off power
beamed from the Earth.

Fig. 5. Propagation of energy using a standing wave.

IV. METHODS FOR WIRELESS POWER

TRANSMISSION
These techniques are briefly classified into three depending
on the distance between the transmitter and receiver. These
are: Short range, Moderate range and Long range.
SHORT DISTANCE RESONANCE : These methods can
reach at most a few centimeters. The action of an electrical
transformer is the simplest instance of wireless energy
transfer. The primary and secondary circuits of a
transformer are electrically isolated from each other. The
transfer of energy takes place by electromagnetic coupling
through a process known as mutual induction. The electric
toothbrush charger is an example of how this principle can
be used. Toothbrush's daily exposure to water makes a
traditional plug-in charger potentially dangerous. Ordinary
electrical connections could also allow water to seep into
the toothbrush, damaging its components. Because of this,
most toothbrushes recharge through inductive coupling.
MODERATE DISTANCE RESONANCE : Household
devices produce relatively small magnetic fields. For this
reason, chargers hold devices at the distance necessary to
induce a current, which can only happen if the coils are
close together. A larger, stronger field could induce current
from farther away, but the process would be extremely
inefficient. Since a magnetic field spreads in all directions,
making a larger one would waste a lot of energy. An
efficient way to transfer power between coils separated by
a few meters is that we could extend the distance between
the coils by adding resonance to the equation. Induction
can take place a little differently if the electromagnetic
field around the coils resonate at the same frequency.

IV. BENEFITS
1)
2)
3)
4)

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Highly Resonant Strong Coupling Provides High

Efficiency Over Distance.
Energy Transfer via Magnetic Near Field Can
Penetrate and Wrap Around Obstacles.
Non-Radiative Energy Transfer is Safe for People and
Animals.
Scalable Design Enables Solutions from Milli watts
to Kilowatts.

5)
6)

Lower Harmonics.
Higher Efficiency Adaptive Resonant System.

continuous energy transfer is needed, but interconnecting

wires are inconvenient, hazardous, or impossible.
Number of household points receives electricity at the
same frequency using single transmitting coil as long as
they all are at resonance. So this setup could recharge all
the devices in a room at once. The unmanned planes or
robots (where wires cannot be involved viz oceans
volcanic mountains etc.) which are run by the wireless
power over an area, as they could fly for months at a time,
could be used for research as well as a mini satellite.
A few proposals even involve sending power to the Earth
from space

V. DEMERITS
1)

2)

3)

The resonance condition should be satisfied and if

any error exists, there is no possibility of power
transfer.
If there is any possibility of very strong ferromagnetic
material presence causes low power transfer due to
radiation.
The Capital Cost for practical implementation of
WPT seems to be very high and the other
disadvantage of the concept is interference of
microwave with present communication systems.

VII. CONCLUSION
The concept of Witricity is discussed. The transmission of
power without wires is no more a theory or a mere
possibility, it is reality now. The electrical energy can be
transmitted to any terrestrial distance. The system would
reduce the cost of electrical energy used by consumer
and get rid of landscape of wires,cables, and transmission
towers.The technological advancements its merits,
demerits and applications are also mentioned.Wireless
power transmission is more advantageous having
efficiency of 90%. It eliminates the capital cost for the
requirement of cables, towers and substations. It has a
great economic impact on human economy.

VI. WITRICITY APPLICATIONS

Witricity wireless power transfer technology can be
applied in a wide variety of applications and environments.
The ability of our technology to transfer power
safely,efficiently, and over distance can improve products
by making them more convenient, reliable and
environmentally friendly. Witricity Technology can be used
to provide :
1) Automatic wireless charging of mobile electronics in
home, car, office, Wifi-hot spots while devices are in
use and mobile.
2) Direct wireless powering of stationary devices (flat
screen TVs, digital picture frames, screens etc).
3) Direct wireless powering of desktop PC peripherals:
mouse, keyboard, printer etc eliminating disposable
batteries and cables.
4) Direct wireless power and communication
interconnections within rotating and moving joints
(robots, packaging machinery, machine tools).
5) Automatic wireless charging for existing electrical
vehicles.
6) Automatic charging for future hybrid and all
commercial vehicles at home, at parking garages and
at remote areas.
Need for wireless power transmission Wireless
transmission is employed in cases where instantaneous or

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We hereby wish to acknowledge our professors and
friends who have shared their knowledge and guided us
in preparing this work.

REFERENCES
[1]

Nikola Tesla, My Inventions, Ben Johnston,

Ed., Austin, Hart Brothers, p. 91, 1982.
[2] http://www.WiTricity.com
[3] http://www.WiTricitypower.com
[4] Benson, Thomas W."Wireless Transmission of
Power now Possible
[5] U.S. Patent 787, 412, "Art of Transmitting
Electrical Energy through the Natural
Mediums".

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