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WIRELESS POWER TRANSMISSION

SOLAR POWER SATELLITE (SPS)

ARUNAI ENGINEERRING COLLEGE

BY H.M.HARIPRAVEEN, iii-YEAR-ECE S.GOWTHAM, iii-YEAR-ECE Email- hmhp1991@gmail.com Contact no:9600349655

named are being discussed. It is shown that both have the potential to satisfy global energy needs. Obviously, regenerative solutions must be taken into account and installed with higher priority within the next decades to reduce the deposition of carbon-di-oxide into the atmosphere. This is absolutely necessary to stabilize the
ABSTRACT

WIRELESS POWER TRANSMISSION


SOLAR POWER SATELLITE

climate. In addition, the threatening depletion of fossil and nuclear fuels in the long run forces research into alternative solutions. INTRODUCTION
A Solar Power Satellite, is a satellite built in high Earth orbit that uses microwave power transmission HISTORY

Using power resources of the outer space and its industrialization have become an urgent task in the development of present day civilization. Solar Energy is the most suitable basis for power supply for the majority of projects in the nearEarth space Passing on to the large-scale spacebased systems of power supply requires putting into life demonstration experiments in which power transmission by Microwaves is supposed. The concepts and the designs have the potential to reduce significantly the complexities and thus, the costs. But the technological demands and operational uncertainties are still immense. Anyhow, major progress with cost reductions of one to two orders of magnitude is required for the space option to become competitive with terrestrial regenerative options. This paper describes the Evolvement of Solar Power Satellite, its Brief History, Its Design, Energy Con Advantages are a few to be named are being discussed. Conversion, Energy Transmission, its Advantages are a few to be

Figure1: An Artist's Concept of a Solar Power


Satellite (NASA)

The

SPS

concept, originally known as Satellite Solar Power System (SSPS) was first described 1973 by Peter Glaser. In this method of transmitting power over long distances using microwaves from a very large antenna on the satellite to a

much larger one on the ground, now known as a Rectenna.

1.

A means of collecting solar power in

space, for example via Solar Cells or a Heat They Engine. 2. A means of transmitting power to earth, for example via Microwave or Laser.

found that, while the concept had several major problems -- chiefly the expense of putting the required materials in orbit and the lack of experience on projects of this scale in space, it showed enough promise to merit further investigation and research.

3.

A means of receiving power on earth,

for example via A Microwave Antennas (Rectenna).

SOLAR ENERGY CONVERSION (SOLAR

More

PHOTONS TO DC CURRENT) Two basic methods of converting sunlight to electricity have been And studied, Solar Photovoltaic Photovoltaic Dynamic (SD) Conversion(PV), Conversion(CPV), Concentrated

recently, the SPS concept has again become interesting, due to increased energy demand, increased energy costs, and emission implications, starting in 1997 with the NASA "Fresh Look to beam solar power to a very large antenna on Earth ".

Conversion discussed below. Photovoltaic Conversion (PV) Most analyses of SPS have focused on photovoltaic conversion, commonly known as Solar Cells. Photovoltaic conversion uses semiconductor cells (e.g., silicon or gallium arsenide) to directly convert photons into electrical power via a Quantum Mechanical Mechanism.

US

National Space Policy now calls for NASA to make significant investments in technology (not a particular vehicle) to drive the costs of ETO [Earth to Orbit] transportation down dramatically. This is, of course, an absolute requirement of space solar power.

2007

Photovoltaic cells are not perfect in practice, as material purity and processing issues during production affect performance; each has been progressively improved for some decades. Some new, thin-film approaches are less efficient (about 20% to 35%), but are much less expensive and generally lighter. In an SPS implementation, solar cells will likely be rather different from the glass-pane protected solar cell panels familiar to many from current terrestrial

Fox news report states that "The Pentagon's National Security Space Office (NSSO) may begin a study in the near future on the possibility of using satellites to collect solar energy for use on Earth. SPACECRAFT DESIGN

An SPS essentially consists of three parts:

use, since they will be optimized for weight, and will be designed to be tolerant to the space radiation environment, but will not need to be designed against corrosion by the elements. They may not require the structural support required for terrestrial use, where the considerable gravity loading imposes structural requirements on terrestrial implementations. Thin-film Solar Cells Thin film cells represent one better option for the future. They hold promise for low mass, low cost, and high production capability by depositing special materials in very thin (microns) layers on rolled substrates similar to newspaper printing. In addition, they are flexible, which lends themselves for deposition on lightweight deployable / inflatable structures needed for packaging of extremely large arrays in launch vehicles.

area of solar cells, it is called as Concentrating Photovoltaic Technology. Because the solar cell area required is rather smaller, the majority of the deployed collecting area in CPV systems is lenses or mirrors.

Solar Dynamic Conversion (SD) Solar Dynamic conversion uses a Heat Engine, consisting of a Piston or a Turbine which uses expansion of a working fluid to produce motion from heat. This then will connect to a Generator or Dynamo to produce electrical power. Two heat cycles for solar dynamic are thought to be reasonable for this: The Brayton cycle or the Stirling cycle. Terrestrial Solar Dynamic Systems typically use a large reflector to focus sunlight to a high concentration to achieve a high temperature so the heat engine can operate at high efficiencies; an SPS implementation will be similar. Solar dyanamic systems have the disadvantage of requiring moving parts in the electrical conversion element. A possible advantage of space for solar thermal power may be the ease with which huge mirrors can be supported and pointed in the freefall and vacuum conditions of space. . They can be constructed from very thin aluminum or other metal sheets with very light frames, or from materials available in space (eg., on the Moon's surface).

Concentrated Photovoltaic Conversion (CPV) It is also possible to use Concentrating Photovoltaic (CPV) systems, which uses solar systems, mirrors or lenses to achieve a high concentration of sunlight on a much smaller area of solar cells, and are able to reach efficiencies above 40%. In this type of conversion the density of solar cells are higher because of smaller

paid for over multiple satellite lifetimes, but would require an in-orbit re-processing facility. ENERGY PAYBACK For an SPS system (including manufacture, launch and deployment) to provide net power it must repay the energy needed to construct it. Solar satellites can pay back the energy in a remarkably short time. The satellite generates a 1kW with 2kg of mass; the payback time would be 29.5 hours. Assuming much less efficient (and more WORKING LIFETIME The lifetime of a PV-based SPS is limited mainly by the ionizing radiation from the radiation of the Sun. Without a protection, this would cause the cells to degrade rapidly; however, use of glass coversheets for the cells reduces the degradation rate to a few percent per year. Deterioration is likely to be more rapid during periods of high exposure to energetic protons from Solar Particle Outburst events. Lifetimes for SD based SPS designs will be similarly limited, though largely for structural or mechanical considerations, such as meteorite impact, metal fatigue of turbine blades, fluid seals or pumps, wear of sliding surfaces degradation or loss of lubricants and working fluids in vacuum, and from temperature variation extremes. As well, most mirror surfaces will degrade from meteorite impact, but such mirrors can be designed simply (and so to be light and cheap), and replacement may be practical. In principle, at the end of life, it would be possible to recycle much of the satellite 'on-site', potentially at a significantly lower cost than launching an SPS as new. This might allow an expensive launch cost to be Wireless power transmission was early proposed to transfer energy from collection to the Earth's surface. realistic) 3% efficient systems and 50 W/kg solar arrays, the energy payback time is only extended to about a year for such an SPS. Clearly, for a system (including manufacture, launch and deployment) to provide net power it must repay the energy needed to construct it. For current silicon PV panels this is relatively high. Again, with an SPS, the net energy received on the ground is higher so this energy payback period would be somewhat reduced.

The power could be transmitted as either microwave or laser radiation at a variety of frequencies depending on system design. Whatever choice is made, the transmitting radiation would have to be non-ionizing to avoid potential disturbances either ecologically or biologically if it is to reach the Earth's surface. This established an upper bound for the frequency used, as energy per photon, and so the ability to cause ionization, increases with frequency. Ionization of biological materials doesn't begin until ultraviolet or higher frequencies so most Radio Frequencies will be acceptable for this. William C. Brown in 1964 demonstrated, a

or some other way. In case of sending the energy by microwave, the solar energy must be converted to electrical energy and then converted further to the microwave. The on-ground rectifying antenna will receive this microwave beam and convert it into the electrical energy. Major hurdle in this power transmission is how to improve efficiency of converting the solar energy to the electrical energy. Many type of solar cells and other type of energy conversion system are being developed. Typical energy conversion ratio from the solar energy to the electrical energy is 10% to 30%. Since other conversion ratios such as from the electricity to the microwave, from the microwave to the electricity are much higher than this conversion ratio, the conversion ratio from the solar energy to the electrical energy will mainly decide the size of the SPS.

microwave-powered model helicopter that received all the power it needed for flight from a microwave beam. He was able to beam 30 kW of power over a distance of 1 mile at 84% efficiency. To minimize the sizes of the antennas used, the wavelength should be small (and frequency efficiency correspondingly high) since antenna

increases as antenna size increases relative to the wavelength used. The highest frequencies that can be used are limited by atmospheric absorption (chiefly water vapor and CO2) at higher microwave frequencies. For these reasons, 2.45 GHz has been proposed as being a reasonable compromise. However, that frequency results in large antenna sizes at the Geostationary Orbit distance. An airship has been proposed to receive higher frequencies, converting them to something like 2.45 GHz for retransmission to the ground. Basic idea of SSPS is to collect the solar energy in orbit and send it to ground by microwave, laser beam PROPOSED SPS The goal is set to realize the 1 GW class operational solar power satellite in the Geo-stationary Earth Orbit in 20 to 30 years. 1GW is an output of a Another promising energy transmission method is to use Laser Beam. The laser beam will be produced from the solar energy using solid-state laser devices. This laser beam will be collected on ground and will be used to produce electrical energy of other type of energy sources such as hydrogen. Technical challenge of this method is to how to produce laser beam from the

solar energy, and how to convert the laser beam to other form of storable or transmittable energy forms. Popular atomic power plant. There are several concepts of the 1GW class SSPS. Solar lights are collected by mirrors at the generator / transmitter. LEO/MEO INSTEAD OF GEO A collection of LEO (Low Earth Orbit) space power stations has been proposed as a precursor to GEO (Geostationary Orbit) space power beaming system(s). There would be both advantages (much shorter energy transmission path lengths allowing smaller antenna sizes, lower cost to orbit, energy

delivery to much of the Earth's surface, assuming appropriate disadvantages antennas are available, changing etc.) and (constantly antenna

geometries, increased debris collision difficulties, requirement of many more power stations to provide continuous power delivery at any particular point on the Earth's surface, etc.). It might be possible to deploy LEO systems sooner than GEO because the antenna development would take less time, but it would certainly take longer to prepare and launch the number of required satellites.

antenna, the reception efficiency is still better, but

the cost and complexity is also considerably greater, almost certainly prohibitively so. Rectennas would be multiple kilometers across. Crops and farm animals may be raised underneath a rectenna, as the EARTH BASED INFRASTRUCTURE The Earth-based receiver antenna or rectenna is a critical part of the original SPS concept. It would probably consist of many short dipole antennas, connected via diodes. Microwaves broadcast from the SPS will be received in the dipoles with about 85% efficiency. With a conventional microwave thin wires used for support and for the dipoles will only slightly reduce sunlight, so such a rectenna would not be as expensive in terms of land use as might be supposed. ADVANTAGES OF AN SPS

1. The SPS concept is attractive because space has


several major advantages over the Earth's

surface for the collection of solar power. There is no air in space, so the collecting surfaces would receive much more intense sunlight, unaffected by weather. In geostationary orbit, an SPS would be illuminated over 99% of the time. This characteristic of SPS based power generation systems to avoid the expensive storage facilities (eg, lakes behind dams, oil storage tanks, coal dumps, etc) necessary in many Earth-based power generation systems.

SPS'S ECONOMIC FEASIBILITY In order to be competitive on a purely economic level, an SPS must cost no more than existing supplies. (Such costs must include the costs of cleaning waste from construction, operation and dismantling of the generating systems--including lifestyle, fuel, and health costs). This may be difficult, especially if it is deployed for some countries, where energy costs have been relatively low. It must cost less to deploy, or operate for a very long period of time, or offer other advantages. Many studies have suggested that the lifetime is effectively infinite, but normal maintenance and replacement of less durable components makes this unlikely. Satellites do not, in our now-extensive experience, last forever. But with regular maintenance there is no reason that a high orbit satellite has to die. At present, the majority of such satellites--weather and communications, fail due to correctable maintenance issues which we do not correct because we have no repair people on site. Common failures are: running out of station keeping fuel or dead batteries-no longer holding a charge. Neither of these failure modes is much of a problem if service is available. With available refueling and battery replacement, the life of a satellite can be greatly increased. Structural components, which make up the largest percentage of mass, seldom fail. Nearly all of the other components can be modularized for easy replacement/upgrade.It can also be easy to confuse construction and system lifespan costs. "How can a SPS produce electricity cheaper than a coal plant when it costs ten times as much to build?" This is where $/kW is especially misleading. A coal

2. Additionally, an SPS will have none of the


polluting consequences of fossil fuel systems, nor the ecological problems resulting from many renewable or low impact power generation systems (eg, dam retention lakes). An SPS would also be applicable on a global scale. Nuclear power especially is something many governments would be reluctant to sell to developing. Whether bio-fuels can support the western world, let alone the developed world, is currently a matter of debate. SPS poses no such problems. 3. Developing the industrial capacity needed to construct and maintain one or more SPS systems would significantly reduce the cost of other space endeavors. For example, a manned Mars mission might only cost hundreds of millions, instead of tens of billions, if it can rely on an already existing capability. 4. More long-term, the potential power production possible is enormous. If power stations can be placed outside Earth orbit, the upper limit is vastly higher still. In the extreme, such arrangements are called Dyson Spheres.

station's lifespan costs must take into account the cost of coal, which can be as much as $200,000/year/Megawatt. Scaled up to lifespan COMPARISON WITH OTHER RENEWABLES (WIND, TIDAL, HYDRO, GEOTHERMAL) Most renewable energy sources (For Example, Tidal Energy, Hydro-Electric, Geothermal, Ethanol), have the capacity to supply only a fraction of the global energy requirement, now or in the foreseeable future. For most, the limitation is geography as there simply are very few sites in the world where generating systems can be built, and for hydro-electric projects in particular, there are few sites still open. For 2005, in the US, hydroelectric power accounted for 6.5% of electricity generation, and other renewable 2.3%. The U.S. Govt. Energy Information Administration projects that in 2030 hydro-power will decline to 3.4% and other renewable will increase to 2.9%. CONCLUSION Most renewable energy sources (e.g., tidal energy, hydro-electric, geothermal, ethanol), have the capacity to supply only a tiny fraction of the global energy requirement, now or in the foreseeable future. For most, the limitation is geography as there simply are very few sites in the world where generating systems can be built. The human dependency on carbon based fossil fuels (eg, petroleum, coal and natural gas) is always on the tough side to answer due to its limited quantity. The fossil fuels perish in certain period if at all the intake of the above is at this rate. Solar Power

costs equivalent to SSP proposals (30 years and 10GW) this equates to a 'hidden' cost of $60 billion.

Satellite solves the problem and in the near future and now, research is still in progress it has the ability to overcome the extinction of the natural resources, the human dependency of electricity has the capability to depend on this kind of source that is renewable, costless. Hence the assessment is completed theoretically but practically, not yet. The practical employment of such devices can be done only if we apply it in the real time tasks in as reduced cost as possible and to yield maximum output.

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