LinkNotes: Wireless Power

Wireless energy transfer

Wireless energy transfer or wireless power transmission is the process that takes place in any system where electrical energy is transmitted from a power source to an electrical load, without interconnecting wires. Wireless transmission is useful in cases where instantaneous or continuous energy transfer is needed, but interconnecting wires are inconvenient, hazardous, or impossible.

clipped from electronics.howstuffworks.com

How Wireless Power Works

Inductive Coupling

An electric toothbrush's base and handle contain coils that allow the battery to recharge.

© Copyright Splashpower 2006
A Splashpower mat uses induction to recharge multiple devices simultaneously.

clipped from electronics.howstuffworks.com

Resonance and Wireless Power

The MIT wireless power project uses a curved coil and capacitive plates.

According to the theory, one coil can recharge any device that is in range, as long as the coils have the same resonant frequency.

clipped from www.tfcbooks.com

MIT WITRICITY
NOT SO ORIGINAL AFTER ALL

For those who believe the 2006 MIT “Witricity” demonstration was the first of its kind, look at this illustration from “Tesla Apparatus and Experiments—How to Build Both Large and Small Tesla and Oudin Coils and How to Carry On Spectacular Experiments With Them,” by H. Winfield Secor, Practical Electrics, November 1921.

clipped from www.witricity.com

Imagine a future in which wireless electricity makes everyday products more convenient, reliable, and environmentally friendly.

WiTricity Corp.’s vision is to develop a family of wireless electric power components that will enable OEM’s in a broad range of industries and applications to make their products truly “wireless.” Wireless electric power delivered over room scale distances, and with high efficiency. Wireless electric power that is safe for people and animals. Wireless electric power—imagine no more… it’s here!

clipped from www.witricity.com

WiTricity Prototype System

This WiTricity prototype system demonstrates wireless powering of an LCD TV. In this demonstration system, a WiTricity power source is positioned on the floor. It is connected to AC power and converts AC current to an oscillating magnetic field. The WiTricity capture device (to the right of the LCD TV), converts the magnetic energy to alternating current and powers the LCD TV. The WiTricity power source and capture devices are highly resonant magnetic systems that can exchange energy in a very efficient manner. WiTricity Corp. is miniaturizing and packaging the technology so that it can be built directly into a wide variety of products and systems—with no need for an external power capture device as shown in this prototype configuration.

clipped from electronics.howstuffworks.com

Long-distance Wireless Power

The Stationary High Altitude Relay Platform (SHARP) unmanned plane could run off power beamed from the Earth.

Stations on Earth can receive energy from the moon via microwaves.

clipped from www.msfc.nasa.gov

Imagine providing the Earth or a moon base with harnessed solar power, or traveling in space without returning to Earth for fuel. That’s the idea behind space-based solar power generators such as this SunTower. Depending upon size, two small panels on a tall tower could power a communications satellite, four panels might power a robotic interplanetary probe, six a manned spacecraft, while 20 panels might supply energy down to Earth or for a lunar base.