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Wireless Power Transfer Using Microwaves

Chapter  in  Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing · November 2018

DOI: 10.1007/978-981-10-6005-2_32

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Wireless Power Transfer Using
Microwaves

Nitin Sharma, Tarun Bheda, Richa Chaudhary, Mohit

and Shabana Urooj

Abstract In this paper, a model has been presented which transfers electric power
without wires by using microwaves. A breadboard model of receiving antenna
called rectenna is developed for preliminary experiments including wireless power
transmission. The paper presents one to one MPT system in which electric power is
transferred at radio frequencies ranging GHz so that the losses can be reduced
which generally occurs during transmission and distribution of electrical power.

Keywords Wireless power transmission
Microwaves
Rectenna

1 Introduction

Transmission and distribution losses are always a key problem to power engineers.
The main cause of this loss is resistance of wires. The power loss associated with
transmission and distribution is approximated around 26%. According to the World
Resources Institute (WRI), India’s electricity grid has the highest transmission and
distribution losses in the world [1]. Using high-graded conductors and cables can
improve the transmission efficiency, but it would become costly too. Therefore, in
this paper, we present a more effective, efficient, and low cost method of power

N. Sharma (&)
T. Bheda
R. Chaudhary
Mohit
S. Urooj

School of Engineering, Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, India
e-mail: nitin.0361@gmail.com
T. Bheda
e-mail: tarunbheda@gmail.com
R. Chaudhary
e-mail: richachaudhary2106@gmail.com
Mohit
e-mail: mohit2661@gmail.com
S. Urooj
e-mail: shabanabilal@gmail.com

© Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2018 307

D.K. Lobiyal et al. (eds.), Next-Generation Networks, Advances in Intelligent
Systems and Computing 638, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-6005-2_32
308 N. Sharma et al.

transfer. Transmission of electricity without wires has always been an attractive

theme of interest from several past decades. Many prodigious researches have been
practicing on this area to enhance the aspect of conventional transfer of electricity.
Nikola Tesla was first to perform experiments in wireless power transmission and
hence called “Father of Wireless.” In early 90s, he has developed a spark-excited
radio frequency resonant transformer now called Tesla coils by which he was able
to transfer electricity without wires by inductive and capacitive coupling. Figure 1
shows Wardenclyffe tower designed by Tesla to transmit electricity over long
distances wirelessly. The discovery of high power microwave emitters called
magnetron has driven the idea of WPT technology to new dimensions. William C.
Brown is known as the first person who achieved long distance wireless power
transmission in 1960. In 1961, he published the first paper which proposes to use
microwaves for transmission of power, and in 1964, he established a model
of microwave-powered helicopter that gets power from microwave beam at
2.45 GHz [2].
At Goldstone in California in 1975 and at Grand Basin on Reunion Island in
1997, power ranging tens of kilowatts were transferred without wires [3]. Japan was
the first to perform MPT experiment in ionosphere, a rocket named microwave

Fig. 1 Wardenclyffe tower

Wireless Power Transfer Using Microwaves 309

ionosphere non-linear interaction experiment (MINIX) is validated by experiment

in 1983 [4]. Likewise, the Stationary High Altitude Relay Platform (SHARP) is the
world’s first fuel-free aircraft driven by microwave energy from ground which was
testified in 1987 at Canada [5]. Also, Dryden Flight Research Centre of NASA
recognized a laser-powered model airplane indoors in 2003. In 2004, Japan
anticipated wireless charging of electric motor automobiles by microwave power
transmission.

2 Materials and Method

It mainly involves a microwave source (magnetron 2.45 GHz), an antenna for

transmission, and an antenna at the receiving end, also called rectenna. In this
model, a 2.45 GHz magnetron is used as a microwave source, and the other choices
are klystron, semiconductor microwave transmitters (GaAs MESFET,
SiC MESFET, AlGaN/GaN HFET), microwave power module (MPM), and trav-
eling wave tube (TWT). Rectangular microstrip patch antenna is used due to
simplicity and low cost. According to recent researches, a slotted waveguide
antenna is epitome to use for this purpose because of its high aperture efficiency
approximated at 95% [6]. Ge 1N34 diodes are used to make rectenna model, these
diodes have a very low forward voltage when connected in series and are able to
convert RF power to DC [7]. Figure 2 shows the purposeful block diagram of
wireless power transmission system.
Table 1 shows the efficiency of rectenna at different frequencies using various
diodes one by one and calculating results according to observations obtained.

Fig. 2. Block diagram of wireless 58 power transmission system

310 N. Sharma et al.

Table 1 Efficiency of rectenna at different frequencies

Frequency (GHz) Diode used Measured efficiency (%) Calculated efficiency (%)
2.45 [7] GaAs-W 92.5 90.5
5.8 [8] Si 82 78.3
8.51 [9] GaAs 62.5 66.2

Table 2 Rectenna demonstration at operating frequency 2.4 GHz

Distance (m) Output voltage, mV (DC) Output rectenna current, mA (DC)
1 2.335 0.379
2 2.281 0.292
3 2.165 0.206
4 1.924 0.140

3 Results and Discussion

Five Ge 1N34 diodes are connected to build a demonstration model of rectenna.

Table 2 shows the results obtained at operating frequency of 2.45 GHz.
The most scorching problem was to design a most efficient rectenna [8, 10, 11].
It was the most tedious target to achieve. The rectenna designed in this paper is
made by using Ge 1N34 diodes. The amount of power transmitted using this
rectenna was quite high and better than power transmitted by using any other
method [12, 13]. Using this rectenna model, we succeeded to transmit electricity
without wires up to four meters [9]. Earlier the use of microwave, for transmission
electricity, was considered biologically hazardous, but now it has been proven that
microwave have same amount of biological impact as much a household micro-
wave oven [6].

4 Conclusion and Future Prospect

With the improvement in type of rectenna used and source of microwave, trans-
mission of electricity, wirelessly and economically, has finally become a trance
come true. The amount of power transmitted reported here in this paper could be
enhanced by using more number of Ge 1N34 diodes and using additional circuit
periphery like filters, amplifiers, and power electronic circuits. Using microwave to
transmit power is the most efficient way than any other method used in present
world. With the potential scope of such type of research can change the face of
electrical engineering.
 Wireless Power Transfer Using Microwaves 311

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