08-03-2011, 10:12 AM
BEAMED POWER TRANSMISSION FROM SOLAR POWER SATELLITES
ABSTRACT: Beamed micro wave power transmission may be thought of as extending our two dimensional power transmission networks to the three dimensional power transmission system in which power is beamed from earth to space or power collected in space is beamed back to the earth.
Solar energy is an unlimited source of energy. The electrical energy obtained from the sun by satellites in geostationary orbits is transmitted to earth. Unlike x-rays or ultra-violet radiation, microwaves are non-ionizing and are one million times too weak to cause harm (SUNSAT Energy). The only perceivable effect is heating, but since the power density of the beam near the receivers on Earth is about 20 milliwatts per square centimeter, one-fourth of natural sunlight, the heat generated is so slight that a person walking through would feel nothing. Manufacturing costs are not a problem either since materials would be negligible (when compared with the relatively giant profits that a solar power satellite would generate).
A complete microwave power transmission system is defined as a three step process in which: (1) DC power at input of the system is converted into microwave power (2) the microwave power is spread out over a transmitting aperture (antenna), the beam formed and directed at the receiver and (3) microwave power is captured from the beam and converted back into DC power at the receiving location. The efficiency of the system is then defined as the ratio of DC power output to the input.
ABSTRACT: Beamed micro wave power transmission may be thought of as extending our two dimensional power transmission networks to the three dimensional power transmission system in which power is beamed from earth to space or power collected in space is beamed back to the earth.
Solar energy is an unlimited source of energy. The electrical energy obtained from the sun by satellites in geostationary orbits is transmitted to earth. Unlike x-rays or ultra-violet radiation, microwaves are non-ionizing and are one million times too weak to cause harm (SUNSAT Energy). The only perceivable effect is heating, but since the power density of the beam near the receivers on Earth is about 20 milliwatts per square centimeter, one-fourth of natural sunlight, the heat generated is so slight that a person walking through would feel nothing. Manufacturing costs are not a problem either since materials would be negligible (when compared with the relatively giant profits that a solar power satellite would generate).
A complete microwave power transmission system is defined as a three step process in which: (1) DC power at input of the system is converted into microwave power (2) the microwave power is spread out over a transmitting aperture (antenna), the beam formed and directed at the receiver and (3) microwave power is captured from the beam and converted back into DC power at the receiving location. The efficiency of the system is then defined as the ratio of DC power output to the input.
