Gauge Newsletter September 2015 | Page 29

The moderate distance power transmis-

energy is extracted

sion uses a far more advanced technique

back from the receiv-

rather than just using mutual induction. If

ing antennas. This

we were to use only induction, we would

microwave

need a large powerful magnetic field to

mission has proved

transfer the power. Developing a large

more efficient with

magnetic field requires a lot of energy,

conversion efficien-

and that’s where Tesla’s theories of reso-

cies exceeding 95%.

trans-

nance come into the action. The resonant
frequency of an object is the frequency

The

at which it naturally vibrates. You may

remarkable and sig-

most

recent

have simply experienced the pendulum

nificant research of

experiments where the energy transfer

the wireless power

between two pendulums is maximum

comes with the space bases solar power.

If the plans go well, the space based

at their resonant frequencies. We can

In May 2015, Japan Aero Exploration

power industry will kick off somewhere

make power transmission more efficient

Agency (JAXA) and Mitsubishi coopera-

around 2030’s. With the rapidly develop-

by using the same resonant frequency for

tion demonstrated their projects on long

ing wireless power transmission, the day

both transmitter and receiver coils thus

range wireless power transmission. Their

where you can go out anywhere and light

making the electromagnetic fields around

transmission system is a part of a space

a bulb in your palm may be not far. The

the coils resonate at the same frequency.

based solar power collector where we

vast demand of power and the scarcity

The resonating coils act like a tunnel of

can collect solar power directly from the

of energy resources is a major upcom-

transmission for the electricity travelling

space where the sun is always shining

ing crisis. But, the wireless power has

along an electromagnetic wave.

and effects of weather are different from

enlightened our hopes and paved way for

that in the earth. The active role of wire-

a better future.

Wireless mobile chargers • Source: www.amazon.co.uk

Since the electromagnetic waves are tun-

less power involves in transmitting the

neled, they wouldn’t disrupt other elec-

collected energy from a space collector

tronic devices within the range nor would

satellite to a station back in earth. On

the energy be dissipated through air.

March 2015, JAXA was able to transmit

CHATHUSKA PASINDU PERERA

The electricity is transmitted through

1.8 Kilowatts of power over 55 meters

Department of Electrical & Electronic

evanescent waves, which carry no energy.

with pinpoint accuracy using microwaves.

Engineering

According to this, one transmitting station

Mitsubishi o the other hand managed to

(Second Year)

will be able to send electricity to several

send 10 Kilowatts of power over a range

receiving coils. Although the system is

of 500meteres. These research teams

References

still under research and not commercially

were able to transmit the power with

1. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries LTD.

used we can expect wireless power trans-

an efficiency of 80%, JAXA is planning to

March 12, 2015: www.mhi-global.com

mission towers in near future. The reso-

further develop the system and test it in

2. Tech times, March 15,2015: www.tech-

nant power transmitting system makes

space by 2018. They have plans to have

times.com

it possible to transfer electrical power

a 200MW solar power collector satellite

4. IEEE spectrum magazine, March 16,

anywhere.

by 2028.

2015 :http://spectrum.ieee.org
5. PowerbyProxi.Ltd.,: http://powerby-

Like it or not, the resonant inductive cou-

proxi.com

pling is good for medium distances. The

6. http://www.fastcompany.com/

long distance wireless power involves

7. International Journal of Educational

advanced technology that can transmit

Planning & Administration. ISSN 2249-

energy over a span of miles. The electric

3093 Volume 1, Number 3 (2011), pp.

power is converted into microwave power

203-210 © Research India Publications:

and the microwaves are directed to a

www.ripublication.com

rectifying antenna where the microwaves

8. Daily Tech, November 12, 2013 :

Space-based solar power concept

www.dailytech.com

Source: en.wikipedia.org

Gauge Newsletter

University of Peradeniya

29