Wireless Power Transmission via Solar Power Satellite

C.Jahnavi G.T.Syamala Vidya Jyothi Institute of Technology

 Humanity's demand for energy is growing at an astonishing rate. Combine this with an ever-dwindling supply of fossil fuels, and it becomes painfully clear that something innovative, powerful and reliable is required. There's one high-tech proposal that holds this tremendous promise an idea that has been around since the late 1960s i.e., the space-based solar power which will eventually solve, all our energy needs.

WHY SPACE SOLAR POWER???

OUTLINE
1. INTRODUCTION 2.SOLAR POWER SATELLITE SYSTEM 3. WIRELESS POWER TRANSMISSION OPTIONS FOR SPACE SOLAR POWER 4.PROS AND CONS OF WPT via SPS 5.CONCLUSION

INTRODUCTION
Space Solar Power (SSP) provides a source that is virtually carbon-free and sustainable. Solar Power Satellites(SPS) with the powercollecting platforms, are installed to operate in the geosynchronous orbit. The key technology needed to enable the future feasibility of SPS is Microwave Beam Wireless Power Transmission(WPT).

SOLAR POWER SATELLITE

It consists of mainly three segments :
1. Solar energy collector 2. DC to Microwave converter 3. Large Antenna Array.

WIRELESS POWER TRANSMISSION

Typical WPT

is a point-to-point power transmission.

Far Term Space Systems to beam power to Earth are of two types Light-Wave System Radio-Wave System

WIRELESS POWER TRANSMISSION

Using Solid state lasers to transfer power provide a range of 10% to 20% efficiency.
But taking into consideration the possible hazards that it could cause to the eyes and less efficiency, microwave power transmission(MPT) has been developed. MPT has high efficiency up to 85% and the beams are far below the lethal levels of concentration even for a prolonged exposure.

Microwave Beam Power Transmission in SPS

It has three aspects:
1.Conversion of direct power from the photovoltaic cells, to microwave power on the satellites on geosynchronous orbit above the Earth. 2. The formation and control of microwave beam aimed precisely at fixed locations on the Earths surface. 3. The collection of the microwave energy and its conversion into electrical energy at the earths surface.

Magnetron
The d.c from photovoltaic cells is supplied to an oscillator fed

magnetron.
Inside the magnetron electrons are emitted from a central terminal called cathode. A positively charged anode surrounding the cathode attracts the electrons. By using a high power permanent magnet the electrons are forced to take a circular path .

As they pass by the resonating cavities of the magnetron, electromagnetic radiation in microwave frequency range is generated. The microwave power output of the magnetron is channeled into an array of parabolic reflector antennas for transmission to the receiving end antennas.

BEAM CONTROL
A microwave power transmission is suitable for a power
transmission from/to moving transmitters/targets.
Therefore, accurate target detection and high efficient beam formation are important. Retrodirective system is always used for SPS which makes it is possible to steer the direction of the microwave beam and also control the phase and amplitude of the it.

RECTENNAS
The word Rectenna is composed of Rectifying circuit
and Antenna. The rectenna can receive and rectify a microwave power to DC. It is a passive element with a rectifying diode, operated without any power source. Point-to-point MPT system needs a large receiving area with a rectenna array because one rectenna element receives and creates only a few Watts.

SPS OVERALL SYSTEM CONCEPT

EFFICIENCY
We classify the MPT efficiency roughly into three stages:

1.DC-RF Conversion Efficiency (70-80 %) 2.Beam Collection Efficiency (89 %) 3.RF-DC Conversion Efficiency (80 %)
DC-RF conversion efficiency which includes losses caused by beam forming. Beam collection efficiency which means ratio of all radiated power to collected power on a receiving antenna, and RF-DC conversion efficiency.

ADVANTAGES
Solar radiation can be more efficiently collected in space.

The power could be directed to any point on the earths surface.

The power density uninterrupted by darkness, clouds, or precipitation, which are the problems encountered with earth based solar arrays. Lighter, low maintenance structures and collectors can be used. No Carbon Dioxide emission. No fuel cost. No waste product.

DISADVANTAGES
The entire structure is massive.
High cost and require much time for construction. Radiation hazards associated with the system.

CONCLUSION
Significant challenges to the implementation of SPS, but then no major expansion of energy supply will be easy. They need to be tackled vigorously by the space, energy and other communities.

Finally, it should be emphasized that if we fail to develop sustainable and clean energy sources and try to limp along by extrapolating present practices, the result is very likely to be thwarted development of economic opportunities for the people and, almost certainly, adverse changes to the planetary environment.