4. Nikola Tesla
1856-1943
Innovations:
– Alternating current
– Wireless power
transmission
experiments at
Wardenclyffe
5. 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)
6. 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
7. 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
8. Solar Power from Satellites
1968’s idea for Solar Power Satellites
proposed by Peter Glaser
– Would use microwaves to transmit power to Earth
from Solar Powered Satellites
Idea gained momentum during the Oil Crises of
1970’s, but after prices stabilized idea was
dropped
– US Department of Energy research program 1978-
1981
9. 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)
10. 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
– Only a few days at spring and fall equinox would the
satellite be in shadow
11. Continued
Waste heat is radiated back into space
Power can be beamed to the location where it
is needed, don’t have to invest in as large a
grid
No air or water pollution is created during
generation
12. 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)
13. Continued
Cost—prototype would have cost $74 billion
Microwave transmission
– Interference with other electronic devices
– Health and environmental effects
14. 1980’s to Present
Japanese continued to study the idea of SPS
throughout the 1980’s
In 1995 NASA began a Fresh Look Study
– Set up a research, technology, and investment
schedule
15. 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
16. Specifications
Collector area must be between 50 (19 sq
miles) and 150 square kilometers (57 sq miles)
50 Tons of material
– Current rates on the Space Shuttle run
between $3500 and $5000 per pound
– 50 tons (112,000lbs)=$392,000,000
17. Continued
There are advantages
Possible power generation of 5 to 10 gigawatts
– “If the largest conceivable space power
station were built and operated 24 hours a
day all year round, it could produce the
equivalent output of ten 1 million kilowatt-
class nuclear power stations.”
21. Deployment Issues
Cost of transporting materials into space
Construction of satellite
– Space Walks
Maintenance
– Routine
– Meteor impacts
22. Possible Solutions
International Space
Station
President’s plan for a
return to the moon
Either could be used as
a base for construction
activities
24. 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
25. Microwaves
Frequency 2.45 GHz microwave beam
Retro directive beam control capability
Power level is well below international
safety standard
26. Microwave vs. Laser Transmission
Microwave
– More developed
– High efficiency up to 85%
– Beams is far below the
lethal levels of
concentration even for a
prolonged exposure
– Cause interference with
satellite communication
industry
Laser
– Recently developed solid
state lasers allow efficient
transfer of power
– Range of 10% to 20%
efficiency within a few
years
– Conform to limits on eye
and skin damage
27. 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
28. Rectenna Design
Currently there are two different design types
being looked at
– Wire mesh reflector
Built on a rigid frame above the ground
Visually transparent so that it would not
interfere with plant life
– Magic carpet
Material pegged to the ground
29. 5,000 MW Receiving Station
(Rectenna). This station is about a
mile and a half long.
30. Rectenna Issues
Size
– Miles across
Location
– Aesthetic
– Near population center
Health and environmental side effects
– Although claim that microwaves or lasers
would be safe, how do you convince people
33. Details
Project in Development
in Japan
Goal is to build a low
cost demonstration
model by 2025
8 Countries along the
equator have agreed to
be the site of a rectenna
34. Continued
10 MW satellite delivering microwave power
– Will not be in geosynchronous orbit, instead
low orbit 1100 km (683 miles)
– Much cheaper to put a satellite in low orbit
– 200 seconds of power on each pass over
rectenna
35. Power to Mobile Devices
If microwave beams carrying power could be
beamed uniformly over the earth they could
power cell phones
Biggest problem is that the antenna would
have to be 25-30 cm square
36.
37. Low Orbit
Communications industry proposing to have
hundreds of satellites in low earth orbit
These satellites will use microwaves to beam
communications to the ground
Could also be used to beam power
38. Continued
Since a low orbit microwave beam would
spread less, the ground based rectenna could
be smaller
Would allow collectors on the ground of a few
hundred meters across instead of 10
kilometers
In low orbit they circle the Earth in about every
90 minutes
39. Issues
Would require a network of hundreds of
satellites
– Air Force currently track 8500 man made objects in
space, 7% satellites
Would make telecommunications companies
into power companies
40. Reliability
Ground based solar only
works during clear days,
and must have storage
for night
Power can be beamed to
the location where it is
needed, don’t have to
invest in as large a grid
A network of low orbit
satellites could provide
power to almost any
point on Earth
continuously because
one satellite would
always be in range
41. Legal Issues
Who will oversee?
Environmental Concerns
International
42. NASA
Funding the research
In charge of space flight for the United States
Would be launching the satellites and doing
maintenance
43. FCC
Federal Communications Commission
– The FCC was established by the
Communications Act of 1934 and is charged
with regulating interstate and international
communications by radio, television, wire,
satellite and cable.
44. Environmental
Possible health hazards
– Effects of long term exposure
– Exposure is equal to the amount that people receive
from cell phones and microwaves
Location
– The size of construction for the rectennas is
massive
45. International
Geosynchronous satellites would take up large
sections of space
Interference with communication satellites
Low orbit satellites would require agreements
about rectenna locations and flight paths
46. 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
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