10-04-2017, 08:19 PM
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Wireless Power Transmission Options for Space Solar Power
Presented By:
Henley, M.W. (1), Potter, S. D. (1), Howell, J. (2), and Mankins, J.C. (3)
(1) The Boeing Company, (2) NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, (3) NASA Headquarters
Wireless Power Transmission Options
for Space Solar Power
Far Term Space Systems to beam power to Earth
Radio-Wave WPT System
Light-Wave Systems
Near term Technology Flight Demonstrations
Model System Concept 1A: 100 kWe satellite
Model System Concept 1B: 10 kWe lunar system
Global Power Consumption
Initial Photovoltaic / Microwave SPS
GEO Sun Tower Conceptual Design
Photovoltaic / Laser-Photovoltaic SPS
GEO Sun Tower-Like Concept
Solar Panel Segment Dimensions: 260 m x 36 m
Synergy Between Sunlight and Laser-PV WPT
for Terrestrial Photo-Voltaic Power Production
Large photo-voltaic (PV) power plants in Earth s major deserts (Mojave, Sahara, Gobi, etc.) receive & convert light from 2 sources:
1) Directly from the Sun, and
2) Via WPT from SSP systems
Laser light is transmitted and converted more efficiently than sun-light
Wavelength is selected for good atmospheric transmissivity
Efficient Light Emitting Diode wavelengths match common PV band-gaps
Gravity gradient-stabilized SPSs are in peak insolation at 6 AM and 6 PM, with shadowing or cosine loss at mid-day and midnight
Heavy, complex gimbaled arrays add little extra power at these times
Both sides of rigid (not gimbaled) solar arrays can be light-sensitive
Back-side produces less power due to occlusion by wires
Translucent substrate (e.g., Kapton) also reduces back-side power levels
Even gimbaled arrays suffer a loss of power around noon and midnight
The combination of ambient sunlight plus laser illumination combines, at the terrestrial PV array, to match the daily electricity demand pattern
Sunlight + Laser-PV WPT = Power Requirement
Photo-Voltaic (PV) Power Station Receives Both
WPT Wavelength Trade for SSP
MSC-1A: Near Term Demonstration
100 kWe Power Plug Satellite
Power System derived from existing ISS IEA (Integrated Energy Assembly)
IEA is successfully deployed in orbit now
IEA includes energy storage (batteries)
Current ISS array pair produces 61.5 kWe
Advanced PV cells can double IEA power
120 kWe with derivative array
MSC-1 demonstrates solar-powered WPT
Efficient power generation
Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) achieve >30% conversion efficiency
36 kW transmitted in light beam
Effective heat dissipation via IEA radiators
Accurate pointing of beam via reflector
MSC-1A: Lunar and Mars Power (LAMP) Application
Laser WPT to Photo-Voltaics on the moon or Mars
MSC 1B: Lunar Polar Science Applications
Technology for Laser-Photo-Voltaic Wireless Power Transmission (Laser-PV WPT) is being developed for lunar polar applications by Boeing and NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
A lunar polar mission could demonstrate and validate Laser-PV WPT and other SSP technologies, while enabling access to cold, permanently shadowed craters that are believed to contain ice
Craters may hold frozen water and other volatiles deposited over billions of years, recording prior impact events on the moon (& Earth)
A photo-voltaic-powered rover could use sunlight, when available, and laser light, when required, to explore a large area of polar terrain
The National Research Council recently found that a mission to the moon s South Pole-Aitkin Basin should be a high priority for Space Science
See paper IAC-02-r4.04, Space Solar Power Technology Demonstration for Lunar Polar Applications, for further details
Summary
Farther-term micro-wave WPT options are efficient, and can beam power through clouds / light rain, but require large sizes for long distance WPT and a specialized receiver (rectenna).
Nearer-term Laser-Photovoltaic WPT options are less efficient, but allow synergistic use of the same photo-voltaic receiver for both terrestrial solar power and SSP.
The smaller aperture size also allows smaller (lower cost) initial systems.
Laser-Photovoltaic WPT systems open new SSP architecture options.
Gravity gradient-stabilized Sun Tower SSP satellites may make more sense for laser systems than than for microwave systems, because the receiver also converts sunlight into electricity, to correct for the cosine loss otherwise observed in power production at mid-day.
Technology flight demonstrations can enable advanced space science and exploration in the near term.
Power Plug or LAMP spacecraft and Lunar Polar Solar Power outpost advance technology for far-term commercial SSP systems, while providing significant value for near-term applications.