WIRELESS POWER
FOR A BETTER FUTURE
The simplest and the most fundamental wireless power transmission method is the induction.
W
hat if you could just carry a bulb in your pocket
power to countries all around the world. Power failures and
and just light it up in the middle of a thick dense
power shortages in the world would almost come to a near end
forest, where no electricity wires can reach??
with such technology. We wouldn’t need wires to connect the
You’ll just say “wow”. But, then again you might
power grid. And there would be no more difficulty in setting up
ask “How?” and the words “Wireless power” may give an answer to
light poles here and there.
your mystifying question.
Unfortunately Mr. Tesla’s efforts on wireless power quietly died
It was Mr. Nikola Tesla, one of these extra-ordinary humans that
away as the loaner Mr. J.P. Morghan withdrew support for the
existed in the world, who claimed to demonstrate wireless power
wardenclyffe tower project and refused funding. Thus, the tower
in 1891. Tesla always had the idea that power can be obtained at
was demolished in 1917 and the attempts faded away. Although
any point in the universe. And thus, he conducted many research-
many scientists followed Tesla’s research and tried to replicate
es on wireless power transmission. His ultimate dream was to
his experiments throughout 70’s and 80’s, they ultimately failed.
invent a way to transfer power around the world. Wardenclyffe
The faith on wireless power was almost lost until recently, some-
tower was built by Tesla in between 1901 and 1902 with the
thing extraordinary happened with the research. Wireless power
aim of developing a global wireless power transmission system.
research projects over the last few years have invented many
This is where the importance of the wireless power transmission
technologies that seemed like miracles in the past.
comes into focus. Imagine a large power station transmitting
The inventions of the wireless power technologies may range
from small day to day electronic devices to space docked power
stations. The curiosity in your mind may simply add the question
“How?”. Well, the transmission can be simply categorized into
three concepts based on the distance of the transmission.
1. Short distance induction.
2. Moderate distance (Resonance).
3. Long distance.
WARDENCLYFFE
The simplest and the most fundamental wireless power trans-
TOWER
transformer is a common example where the power transmis-
mission method of them all is the induction. An electrical
sion takes place by induction. The wireless mobile chargers you
use today are a product of the induction research carried out
throughout years. The device uses coils to create a magnetic
field where the receivers contain compatible coils to receive the
transmission. While the short distance mutual induction is good
way of charging up devices it cannot be used for long-range
Source: http://photos.wikimapia.org
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