Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Microwaves
Microwaves
Peter Vaessen
KEMA
September 2009
ELECTRICITY
Electricity
www.leonardo-energy.org
1 Introduction
Also Tesla did experiments in the field of pulsed wireless energy transfer
in 1899. Tesla's Magnifying Transmitter, an early type of Tesla Coil that
measured 16 meters in diameter, could transmit tens of thousands of
watts without wires.
2
Wireless Power Transmission
www.leonardo-energy.org
The Raytheon Company did the first successful WPT experiment in 1963.
In this experiment energy was transmitted with a DC-to-DC efficiency of
13%. This company also demonstrated a microwave-powered helicopter
in 1964 [2]. The Jet propulsion lab of NASA carried out an experiment and
demonstrated the transfer of 30 kW over a distance of 1 mile in 1975.
They used an antenna array erected at the Goldstone facility. This test
demonstrated the possibilities of wireless power outside the laboratory.
Rockwell International and David Sarnoff Laboratory operated in 1991 a
microwave powered rover at 5.86 GHz. Three kilowatts of power was
transmitted and 500 watts was received [2].
3
Electricity
www.leonardo-energy.org
4
Wireless Power Transmission
www.leonardo-energy.org
5
Electricity
www.leonardo-energy.org
3 Applications
6
Wireless Power Transmission
www.leonardo-energy.org
The second method is via a relay reflector between the transmitter and
rectenna. This reflector needs to be at an altitude that is visible for both
transmitter and rectenna. This method is not discussed further. Next three
bridging applications of WPT are discussed.
Alaska '21
WPT can be an option for power supply to rural areas. In 1993 was a
project presented about wireless power supply in Alaska. Because of
limited infrastructure, hundreds of small rural communities in Alaska must
provide their own electricity. These systems can be expensive not
standard or just not available. At the moment, the small communities
produce their own power with mainly diesel engines. These produce noise
and pollution. Also the needed fuel has to be transported over long
distances. All this results in an electricity price in excess of $40/kWh [14].
Cable connections trough water is no option because of ice. With the help
of WPT, the needed power production of the communities can be
combined. This can reduce noise, pollution and transportation of fuel.
WPT may be capable of transmitting electrical energy to Alaska’s remote
villages. To investigate these possibilities, a pilot project was conducted
named "Alaska'21”. The system used for the pilot project consisted of a
2.45 GHz phased array design. The distances that should be bridged are
between 1 and 15 miles. The status of the project is unknown
7
Electricity
www.leonardo-energy.org
Figure 4 Alaska’21
The Grand Bassin project [15] lead by the local university will supply
electricity to a remote isolated mountain village. The project supported by
CNES, the French space research centre, aims to beam electrical power
to the tourist village of Grand Bassin on the island of La Reunion. Grand
Bassin lies at the bottom of one of the deep canyons on the island. WPT
will be used to preserve the beautiful scenery of the valley. The plan was
to build a microwave link down the side of the canyon, operating at 2.45
GHz over a distance of 700 meters and delivering 10kW with an overall
efficiency of 57%. The system will work in combination with PV panels,
charging batteries of the system when the power is not being used
directly. A prototype was build and presented at the Wireless Power
Transmission conference in 2001, which was held on the island. The cost
of the project was estimated to be "1 million dollars for 10 kW” and the
project stopped.
8
Wireless Power Transmission
www.leonardo-energy.org
Hawaii demonstration
9
Electricity
www.leonardo-energy.org
4 Safety issues
Bio-effects
10
Wireless Power Transmission
www.leonardo-energy.org
Costs
Involved organizations
NASA and the National Space Development Agency of Japan are still
11
Electricity
www.leonardo-energy.org
5 Conclusions
Space Solar Power has gained public interest during the last year
because of global warming and the energy independency goals of US and
EU.
References
12
Wireless Power Transmission
www.leonardo-energy.org
13