Abstract
Power beaming is the efficient point-to-point transfer of electrical energy across free space by a directive electromagnetic beam. This paper clarifies the basic principles of power beaming in simple terms, and proposes a benchmarking methodology for improving the comparative assessment of power beaming systems and technology. An in-depth historical overview tracing the worldwide progress in microwave and millimeter wave (mmWave) experimental demonstrations over the past 60 years shows clear evidence of a significant increase in activity during the last 5 years. In addition, a review of progress in scalable rectenna arrays for the reception of microwave power beaming shows sufficient maturity for new research to initiate on the ruggedization, productization, and system integration aspects of the technology. A review of regulatory issues including spectrum management and safety indicates the need for additional technical solutions and international coordination. Breaking results reported in this paper include 1) data from the first in-orbit flight test of a solar-to-RF “sandwich module”, 2) the construction of multiple US in-orbit demonstrations, planned for 2023 launch, that will demonstrate key technologies for space-based solar power, and 3) a 100-kW mmWave power beaming transmitter demonstrating inherent human life safety.
Highlights
The recent explosion in commercial applications of wireless power transmission (WPT) necessitates the definition of power beaming [1] as a distinct class of WPT
Effort is given to present rectenna arrays that have not been previously covered while striving for geographic diversity
The best published efficiencies are just over 80%, with lower frequency rectennas typically having superior efficiency to those designed at higher frequencies
Summary
The recent explosion in commercial applications of wireless power transmission (WPT) necessitates the definition of power beaming [1] as a distinct class of WPT. Optimized power beams calculated for a variety of geometries agree well with the theoretic limit, as shown, validating this approach This numeric method is useful for visualizing power beaming links, as shown, which illustrates the diffraction from a 10-MW, 10-GHz, 30 m × 30 m transmit aperture whose amplitude and phase are optimized to deliver power to a 1 km × 1 km receive aperture located 400 km down range. Terrestrial demonstrations of power beaming technologies often make use of existing transmitters optimized for far-field directivity rather than for beam collection efficiency at range. In these situations, the system tradeoffs can be non-intuitive to those accustomed to working in the far field regime only. This result highlights how far-field gain and directivity concepts can lose validity in the Fresnel zone
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