Wireless Power Transmission for Solar Power Satellite

T.S. Hasarmani
Department of Electrical Engineering, Bharati Vidyapeeth Universitys ollege of Engineering, P!ne "##$"%
santosh&hasarmani'rediffmail(com
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Abstract --A great concern has been voiced in recent years over
the extensive use of energy, the limited supply of resources, and
the pollution of the environment from the use of present energy
conversion systems. Electrical power accounts for much of the
energy consumed. uch of this power is wasted during
transmission from power plant generators to the consumer. The
resistance of the wire used in the electrical grid distribution
system causes a loss of !"#$%& of the energy generated. This loss
implies that our present system of electrical distribution is only
'%#'(& efficient.
)i*ola Tesla is best *nown for his remar*able statements
regarding the wireless transmission of electrical power. His first
efforts towards this end started in +,-+ and were intended to
simply .disturb the electrical e/uilibrium in the nearby portions
of the earth... to bring into operation in any way some
instrument.. 0n other words the ob1ect of his experiments was
simply to produce effects locally and detect them at a distance.
Keywords:
)( )*T+,DUT),*
)t is -nown that electromagnetic energy is associated with the
propagation of electromagnetic waves( Theoretically, we can
!se all electromagnetic waves for a wireless power
transmission .WPT/( The difference 0etween the WPT and
comm!nication systems is only efficiency( 1a2wells
E3!ations indicate that the electromagnetic field and its power
diff!se to all directions( Tho!gh we transmit energy in a
comm!nication system, the transmitted energy is diff!sed to
all directions( Tho!gh the received power is eno!gh for a
transmission of information, the efficiency from the
transmitter to receiver is 3!iet low( Therefore, we do not call
it the WPT system(
Typical WPT is a point4to4point power transmission( 5or the
WPT, we had 0etter concentrate power to receiver( )t was
proved that the power transmission efficiency can approach
close to #$$6( We can more concentrate the transmitted
microwave power to the receiver apert!re areas with taper
method of the transmitting antenna power distri0!tion(
5amo!s power tapers of the transmitting antenna are 7a!ssian
taper, Taylor distri0!tion, and hepachet distri0!tion( S!ch
taper of the transmitting antenna is commonly !sed for
s!ppression of side lo0es( )t corresponds to increase in the
power transmission efficiency( oncerning the power
transmission efficiency of the WPT, there are some good
optical approaches in +!ssia(
5!t!re s!ita0le and largest application of the WPT via
microwave is a Space Solar Power Satellite .SPS/( The SPS is
a gigantic satellite designed as an electric power plant or0iting
the 7eostationary Earth ,r0it .7E,/( )t consists of mainly
three segments8 solar energy collector to convert the solar
energy into D .direct c!rrent/ electricity, D4to4microwave
converter, and large antenna array to 0eam down the
microwave power to the gro!nd( The first solar collector can
0e either photovoltaic cells or solar thermal t!r0ine( The
second D4to4microwave converter of the SPS can 0e either
microwave t!0e system and9or semicond!ctor system( )t may
0e their com0ination( The third segment is a gigantic antenna
array(
Ta0le #(# shows some typical parameters of the transmitting
antenna of the SPS( :n amplit!de taper on the transmitting
antenna is adopted in order to increase the 0eam collection
efficiency and to decrease side lo0e level in almost all SPS
design( : typical amplit!de taper is called #$ dB 7a!ssian in
which the power density in the center of the transmitting
antenna is ten times larger than that on the edge of the
transmitting antenna(
The SPS is e2pected to 0e operational aro!nd ;$%$( Before
reali<ation of the SPS, we can consider other applications of
WPT( )n recent years, mo0ile devices advanced significantly
and re3!ire decreasing power cons!mption( )t means that we
can !se the diff!sed wea- microwave power as power so!rce
of the mo0ile devices with low power cons!mption s!ch as
+54)D( The +54)D is radio )4t!g with wireless power
transmission and wireless information( This is a new WPT
application li-e 0roadcasting(
%=
AKGEC JOURNAL OF TECHNOLOGY, vol(#, no(;
))( >)ST,+? ,5 W)+E@ESS P,WE+
T+:*S1)SS),*
)n #=A", Bames ( 1a2well predicted the e2istence of radio
waves 0y means of mathematical model( )n #==", Bohn >(
Poynting reali<ed that the Poynting vector wo!ld play an
important role in 3!antifying the electromagnetic energy( )n
#===, 0olstered 0y 1a2wellCs theory, >einrich >ert<
s!cceeded in showing e2perimental evidence of radio waves
0y his spar-4gap radio transmitter( The prediction and
evidence of the radio wave in the end of #Dth cent!ry was start
of the wireless power transmission(

D!ring the same period of 1archese 7( 1arconi and +eginald
5essenden who are pioneers of comm!nication via radio
waves, *icola Tesla s!ggested an idea of the wireless power
transmission and carried o!t the first WPT e2periment in
#=DDE#FE;F( >e said GThis energy will 0e collected all over the
glo0e prefera0ly in small amo!nts, ranging from a fraction of
one to a few horse4powers( ,ne of its chief !ses will 0e the
ill!mination of isolated homesH( >e act!ally 0!ilt a gigantic
coil which was connected to a high mast of ;$$4ft with a % ft4
diameter 0all at its top( >e fed %$$ Iw power to the Tesla coil
resonated at #J$ -><( The +5 potential at the top sphere
reached #$$ 1V(
Unfort!nately, he failed 0eca!se the transmitted power was
diff!sed to all directions with #J$ ->< radio waves whose
wave length was ;# -m(
To concentrate the transmitted power and to increase
transmission efficiency, we have to !se higher fre3!ency than
that !sed 0y Tesla( )n #D%$s, m!ch progress in generating
high4power microwaves, namely #4#$ 7>< radio waves, was
achieved 0y invention of the magnetron and the -lystron(
:fter World War )), high power and high efficiency
microwave t!0es were advanced 0y development of radar
technology( We can concentrate a power to receiver with
microwaves( We call the wireless power transmission with
microwaves as microwave power transmission .1PT/( Based
on the development of the microwave t!0es d!ring the World
War )), W( ( Brown started the 5irst 1PT research and
development in #DA$(


5ig!re # 1PT Demonstration with helicopter 0y W(( (Brown
5irst of all, he developed a retina, rectifying antenna which he
named, for receiving and rectifying microwaves( The
efficiency of the first rectenna developed in #DA% was J$ 6 at
o!tp!t "WD and "$6 at o!tp!t KWD, respectively E%F(
With the rectenna, he s!cceeded in 1PT e2periments to wired
helicopter in #DA" and to free4flied helicopter in#DA= .5ig( #/(
)n #DK$s8 he tried to increase D4+54transmission4+54D
total efficiency with ;("J 7>< microwave( )n #DK$, overall
D4D total efficiency was only ;A(J 6 at %DWD in
1arshall Space 5light enter(
)n parallel, he and his team s!cceeded in the largest 1PT
demonstration in #DKJ at the Ven!s Site of BP@ 7oldstone
5acility .fig ;/( Distance 0etween a transmitting para0olic
antennas, whose diameter was ;Am, and a rectenna array,
whose si<e was %(" m 2 K(; m, was # mile(
:fter #DD$s, many 1PT la0oratory and field e2periments
were carried o!t in the world( We often !se ;("J 7>< or J(=
7>< of the )S1 0and .)S1L)nd!stry, Science, and 1edical/
for the 1PT system( : anadian gro!p demonstrated f!el4
free airplane flight e2periment with 1PT in #D=K which was
called S>:+P .Stationary >igh :ltit!de +elay Platform/ with
;("J 7><(

5ig(% Stationary >igh :ltit!de +elay Platform(
%D
)n US:, there were many 1PT research and development
proMects after W( ( BrownN for instance, retro directive
microwave transmitters, rectenna, new devices and microwave
circ!it technologies(
)n Bapan, there were many field 1PT e2periments s!ch as
f!el4free airplane flight e2periment with 1PT phased array
with ;("## 7>< in #DD;, gro!nd4to4gro!nd 1PT e2periment
with power company and !niversities in #DD"4DJ(
5ig( " ( 7ro!nd4to47ro!nd 1PT E2periment in Bapan in #DD"4DJ
)))( +EE*T T+E*DS
Antennas for !crowa"e #ower Trans$!ss!on: :ll antennas
can 0e applied for 0oth the 1PT system and comm!nication
systems, for e2ample, ?agi4Uda antenna, horn antenna,
para0olic antenna, micro strip antenna, phased array antenna
or any other type of antenna(
To fi2ed target of the 1PT system, we !s!ally select a large
para0olic antenna, for e2ample, in 1PT demonstration in
#DKJ at the Ven!s Site of BP@ 7oldstone 5acility and in
gro!nd4to4gro!nd 1PT e2periment in #DD"4DJ in Bapan( )n
the f!el4free airship light e2periment with 1PT in #DDJ in
Bapan, they changed a direction of the para0olic antenna to
chase the moving airship(
>owever, we have to !se a phased array antenna for the 1PT
from9to moving transmitter9receiver which incl!de the SPS
0eca!se we have to control a microwave 0eam direction
acc!rately and speedily( The phased array is a directive
antenna which generates a 0eam form whose shape and
direction 0y the relative phases and amplit!des of the waves at
the individ!al antenna elements(
)t is possi0le to steer the direction of the microwave 0eam(
The antenna elements might 0e dipoles E#F, slot antennas, or
any other type of antenna, even para0olic antennas E;, %F( )n
some 1PT e2periments in Bapan, the phased array antenna
was adopted to steer a direction of the microwave 0eam
.5ig(J/(
:ll SPS is designed with the phased array antenna(
W)+E@ESS P,WE+ T+:*S1)SS),*
(
5ig(J( Phased :rray !sed in Bapanese 5ield
1PT e2periment

Recent Tec%no&o'!es for Trans$!tters: The technology
employed for generation of microwave radiation is an
important s!0Mect for the 1PT system( We need higher
efficient generator9amplifier for the 1PT system than that for
the wireless comm!nication system( 5or highly efficient 0eam
collection on rectenna array, we need highly sta0ili<ed and
acc!rate phase and amplit!de of microwaves for phased array
system for the 1PT(
There are two types of microwave generators9amplifiers( ,ne
is a microwave t!0e and the other is semicond!ctor amplifier(
a'netron: 1agnetron is a crossed field t!0e in which
electrons emitted from the cathode ta-e cyclical path to the
anode( The magnetron is self4oscillatory device in which the
anode contains a resonant +5 str!ct!re( The magnetron has
long history from invention 0y :( W( >!ll in #D;#(
The practical and efficient magnetron t!0e attracted
worldwide interest only after I( ,-a0e proposed divided
anode4type magnetron in #D;=( 1agnetron technologies
received a 0oost d!ring the World War )), especially with the
Bapanese :rmy( The magnetrons were also !sef!l for
microwave ovens( :s a res!lt, the magnetron of J$$ O #,$$$
W is widely in !se for microwave ovens in ;("J 7><, and is a
relatively ine2pensive oscillator .0elow PJ/( There is a net
glo0al capacity of "J(J7W9year for all magnetrons !sed in
microwave ovens whose prod!ction is J$O JJ millions( )t was
W( ( Brown who invented a voltage controlled oscillator
with a coo-er4type magnetron in P@@(
(e$!cond)ctor A$*&!f!er: :fter #D=$s, semicond!ctor devices
0ecame dominant in microwave world instead of the
microwave t!0es( This was driven 0y advances in mo0ile
phone networ-s( The semicond!ctor device is e2pected to
e2pand microwave applications, for e2ample, phased array
and active integrated antenna .:):/, 0eca!se of its
managea0ility and mass prod!ctivity( :fter #DD$s, some 1PT
"$
AKGEC JOURNAL OF TECHNOLOGY, vol(#, no(;
e2periments were carried o!t in Bapan with phased array of
semicond!ctor amplifiers(
Typical semicond!ctor devices for microwave circ!its are
5ET .5ield Effect Transistor/, >BT .>etero M!nction Bipolar
Transistor/, and >E1T .>igh Electron 1o0ility Transistor/(
Present materials for the semicond!ctor devices are Si for
lower fre3!ency 0elow a few 7>< and 7a:s for higher
fre3!ency(( )t is easy to control phase and amplit!de thro!gh
the microwave circ!its with semicond!ctor devices, for
e2ample, amplifiers, phase shifters, mod!lators, and so on(
!rrently, new materials are !nder development to ena0le
semicond!ctor devices yield increased o!tp!t power and
efficiency(
Trans$!tter +ss)es and Answers for (*ace Use: @argest 1PT
application is a SPS in which over 7W microwave will 0e
transmitted from space to gro!nd at distance of %A,$$$-m( )n
the SPS, we will !se microwave transmitters in space( 5or
space !se, the microwave transmitter will 0e re3!ired
lightness to red!ce la!nch cost and higher efficiency to red!ce
heat pro0lem(
: weight of the microwave t!0e is lighter than that of the
semicond!ctor amplifier when we compare the weight 0y
power4weight ratio .-g9-W/( The microwave t!0e can
generate9amplify higher power microwave than that 0y the
semicond!ctor amplifier( Iyoto Universitys gro!ps have
developed a light weight phase controlled magnetron called
,1ET, ompact 1icrowave Energy Transmitter with a
power4weight ratio 0elow ;Jg9W .fig(%(;(/

5ig( A ompact 1icrowave Energy Transmitter with the P1
.,1ET/
The ,1ET incl!des D9onverters, a control circ!it of the
phase controlled magnetron with J(= 7><, a heat radiation
circ!it, a wave g!ide, and an antenna E"F( The power4weight
ratio of the ,1ET is lightest weight in all microwave
generators and amplifiers( TWT: for satellite !se has lighter
power weight ratioN ;;$Wat ;("J7>< at ;(AJ -g .the TWT:
weighs #(J-g, the power s!pply weighs #(#J-g/( #%$W at J(=
7>< at ;(#J -g .the TWT: weighs $(=-g, the power s!pply
weighs #(%J-g/( >ence, they can deliver#;g9W and #A(Jg9W,
respectively( They do not incl!de a heat radiation circ!it, a
wave g!ide, and an antenna(
)V( +EE*T TE>*,@,7):@ T+E*DS
Retro d!rect!"e ,ea$ Contro&: : microwave power
transmission is s!ita0le for a power transmission from9to
moving transmitters9targets( Therefore, acc!rate target
detection and high efficient 0eam forming are important(
+etro directive system is always !sed for SPS(
: corner reflector is most 0asic retro directive system( The
corner reflectors consist of perpendic!lar metal sheets, which
meet at an ape2( )ncoming signals are reflected 0ac- in the
direction of arrival thro!gh m!ltiple reflections off the wall of
the reflector( Van :tta array is also a 0asic techni3!e of the
retro directive system( This array is made !p of pairs of
antennas spaced e3!idistant from the center of the array, and
connected with e3!al length transmission lines( The signal
received 0y an antenna is re4radiated 0y its pair, th!s the order
of re4radiating elements are inverted with respect to the center
of the array, achieving the proper phasing for retro directivity(
Us!al retro directive system have phase conM!gate circ!its in
each receiving9transmitting antenna, which play same role as
pairs of antennas spaced e3!idistant from the center of the
array in Van :tta array( The signal is called a pilot signal( We
do not need any phase shifters for 0eam forming( The retro4
directive system is !s!ally !sed for satellite comm!nication,
wireless @:*, military, and so on(
.a/ two4sided corner reflector, .0/ Van :tta :rray, .c/
retrodirective array with phase conM!gate circ!its(
En"!ron$enta& +ss)es: ,ne of the characteristics of the 1PT
is to !se more intense microwave than that in wireless
comm!nication systems( Therefore, we have to consider 1PT
safety for h!mans(
+nteract!on w!t% At$os*%ere: )n general, effect of atmosphere
on microwaves is 3!ite small( There are a0sorption and scatter
"#
0y air, rain, and irreg!larity of air refraction ratio( )n ;("J
7>< and J(= 7><, the a0sorption 0y water vapor and o2ygen
dominate the effect in the air( Especially, it is eno!gh to
consider only a0sorption 0y the o2ygen in the microwave
fre3!ency( )t is appro2imately $($$K dB9-m( )n the SPS case,
the amo!nt of total a0sorption thro!gh the air from space is
appro2imately $($%J dB(
+nteract!on w!t% (*ace #&as$as: When microwaves from SPS
propagate thro!gh ionospheric plasmas, some interaction
0etween microwaves and the ionospheric plasmas occ!rs( )t is
well -nown that refraction, 5araday rotation, scintillation, and
a0sorption occ!r 0etween wea- microwave !sed for satellite
comm!nication and the plasmas( >owever, infl!ence on the
1PT system is negligi0le( )t is nonlinear interaction 0etween
intense microwave and the space plasmas that we have to
investigate 0efore the commercial SPS( We theoretically
predict that the following may occ!rN heating of the plasmas,
plasma hall effect, thermal self4foc!sing effect of the
microwave 0eam, and three4wave interactions and e2citation
of electrostatic waves in 1>< 0ands( These interactions dont
not occ!r in e2istent satellite comm!nication systems 0eca!se
microwave power is very wea-(
V( +EE*T T+E*DSN W)+E@ESS P,WE+
T+:*S1)SS),* O +EE)VE+S :*D +ET)5)E+S
Point4to4point 1PT system needs a large receiving area with a
rectenna array 0eca!se one rectenna element receives and
creates only a few W( Especially for the SPS, we need a h!ge
rectenna site and a power networ- connected to the e2isting
power networ-s on the gro!nd( ,n contrary, there are some
1PT applications with one small rectenna element s!ch as
+54)D(
Recent Tec%no&o'!es of Rectenna: The word GrectennaH is
composed of Grectifying circ!itH and GantennaH( The rectenna
can receive and rectify a microwave power to D( The
rectenna is passive element with a rectifying diode, operated
witho!t any power so!rce( The circ!it, especially diode,
mainly determines the +54D conversion efficiency( Silicon
Schott-y 0arrier diodes were !s!ally !sed for earlier rectenna(
*ew devices li-e Si and 7a* are e2pected to increase the
efficiency( The rectenna with 5ET or >E1T appear ed
recently( The single sh!nt f!ll4wave rectifier is always !sed
for the rectenna( )t consists of a diode inserted in the circ!it in
parallel, a Q9" distri0!ted line, and a capacitor inserted in
parallel( )n an ideal sit!ation, #$$6 of the received
microwave power sho!ld 0e converted into D power(
Recent Tec%no&o'!es of Rectenna Array: The rectenna will 0e
!sed as an array for high power 1PT 0eca!se one rectenna
element rectifies a few W only( 5or !s!al phased array
antenna, m!t!al co!pling and phase distri0!tion are pro0lems
to solve( 5or the rectenna array, pro0lem is different from that
of the array antenna 0eca!se the rectenna array is connected
not in microwave phase 0!t in D phase(
W)+E@ESS P,WE+ T+:*S1)SS),*
When we connect two rectenna in series or in parallel, they
will not operate at their optim!m power o!tp!t and their
com0ined power o!tp!t will 0e less than that if operated
independently( This is theoretical prediction(

V) E55))E*?
We classify the 1PT efficiency ro!ghly into three stages8 D4
+5 conversion efficiency which incl!des losses ca!sed 0y
0eam forming, 0eam collection efficiency which means ratio
of all radiated power to collected power on a receiving
antenna, and +54D conversion efficiency(
RF--C Con"ers!on Eff!c!ency: The +54D conversion
efficiency of the rectenna or the W is over =$ 6 of
e2perimental res!lts as shown( Decline of the efficiency is
ca!sed 0y array connection loss, change of optim!m operation
point of the rectenna array ca!sed 0y change of connected
load, tro!0le of the rectenna, and any losses on the systems,
for e2ample, D9: conversion, ca0les, etc( EAF >owever, it
is easier to reali<e higher efficiency than that on the other two
stages(


5ig( K Efficiency of +ectenna Element
,ea$ Co&&ect!on Eff!c!ency: The 0eam collection efficiency
depends on the transmitter and receiver apert!re areas, the
wavelength, and the separation distance 0etween the two
antennas(
V))( ,*@US),*
Electrical energy can 0e economically transmitted witho!t
wires to any terrestrial distance( The economic transmission of
power witho!t wires is of cr!cial importance to man( )t will
ena0le him to dispense with inn!mera0le ca!ses of sinf!l
";
AKGEC JOURNAL OF TECHNOLOGY, vol(#, no(;
waste( This technology opened !p the possi0ility of
constr!cting power stations on the moon( These power
stations will 0e capa0le of transmitting power to earth !sing
microwave energy( S!ch microwave energy wo!ld then 0e
converted into electricity !sing a vast array of rectenna
receivers on the earth(
*evertheless with all the challenges that face wide4scale
deployment of this new technology wireless power
transmission for solar power satellite is still considered as a
ne2t4generation power transmission system(
V)))( +E5E+E*ES
E#F Tesla, *(, GThe transmission of electric energy witho!t wiresH,
E&ectr!ca& .or&d, 1arch J, #D$"
E;F Brown, W( (, GBeamed microwave power transmission and its
application to spaceH, +EEE Trans/ !crowa"e T%eory Tec%/0 vol( "$,
no( A, #DD;, pp(#;%D4#;J$
E%F Iaya, *(, S( )da, ?( 5!Mino, and 1( 5!Mita, GTransmitting antenna
system for airship demonstration of Space Energy and
TransportationH +EEE Vol(#, *o(", #DDA, pp(;%K4;"J
E"F 5!Miwara, E(, ?( Ta-ahashi, *( Tana-a, I( Saga, Gompact
1icrowave Energy Transmitter .,1ET/H, Proc( of Bapan4US Boint
Wor-shop on SSPS .BUSPS/, ;$$%, pp(#=%4#=J(
EJF >ats!da, T(, I( Ueno, 1( )no!e, GSolar power satellite
interference assessmentH, +EEE, Vol( %, *o( ", Dec( ;$$;, pp(AJ4K$
EAF 1cSpadden, B( ,(, @( 5!n, and I( hang, G: >igh onversion
Efficiency J(= 7>< +ectennaH, +EEE TT-( -!'est, #DDK, pp(J"K4
JJ$
T.S. Hasarmani is 1( Tech, B(E
Electrical and D(E(E, @1)STE( >e
speciali<ed in electrical machines
and power systems(
>e wor-ed for Tata Teleservices
Pvt @td, 1!m0ai as
1aintenance Engineer d!ring
:!g!st ;$$" to B!ly ;$$J( Then he
was ta!ght at Bharati Vidyapeeth
ollege of Engineering, *ew
Delhi d!ring B!ly;$$J to ,ct ;$$=(
!rrently, he is @ect!rer in the Department of Electrical Engineering, Bharati
Vidyapeeth University, ollege of Engineering, P!ne



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