Space-based wireless power supply system and method based on dawn-dusk orbit

Abstract

The application discloses a space-based wireless power supply system and method based on dawn-dusk orbit. The space-based wireless power supply system based on dawn-dusk orbit comprises at least one energy satellite arranged in a dawn-dusk sun synchronous orbit; the energy satellite comprises an energy collection unit for collecting solar energy and converting the solar energy into first electric energy, and an energy emission unit for converting the first electric energy into a wireless energy beam and emitting the wireless energy beam outward; at least one client satellite arranged in a to-be-charged orbit other than the dawn-dusk sun synchronous orbit; the client satellite comprises an energy receiving unit for receiving the wireless energy beam and converting the wireless energy beam into second electric energy, and a power management unit for supplying the second electric energy to at least one power-consuming load or energy storage unit of the client satellite. The application can break through the existing monomer satellite energy bottleneck and provide flexible and reliable external energy supplement for on-orbit spacecraft.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of spacecraft technology, and in particular to a space-based wireless power supply system and method based on a dawn-dusk orbit. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, the energy supply for satellites, space stations, and other spacecraft in orbit primarily relies on a "solar panel + battery" model. When the spacecraft is in sunlight, the solar panels power onboard equipment while simultaneously charging the batteries; when the spacecraft enters Earth's shadow (during a solar eclipse), the batteries power the onboard equipment. This traditional energy supply model has the following inherent drawbacks:

[0003] 1. Limited service life: The number of charge-discharge cycles of batteries is limited, and their performance degrades over time. In many cases, the end of the battery's life directly determines the retirement of the entire satellite, resulting in a huge waste of assets.

[0004] 2. Peak Power Limitation: The payloads carried by satellites (such as synthetic aperture radar and high-power communication transponders) are becoming increasingly powerful. However, due to limitations in the size, weight, and cost of solar panels, there is an upper limit to the peak power that a satellite can provide, which restricts the application of higher-performance and more powerful payloads.

[0005] 3. Mission interruption during solar eclipses: Low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites frequently enter and exit Earth's shadow. During a solar eclipse, satellites rely entirely on their limited battery power, typically only able to maintain basic survival, and are unable to perform high-power tasks, resulting in a significant reduction in their service capabilities and observation efficiency.

[0006] 4. High redundancy in overall satellite design: In order to cope with the longest "eclipse" time and the power decay at the end, the satellite must be equipped with huge and bulky solar panels and battery packs far exceeding normal requirements from the beginning of the design, which significantly increases the satellite's manufacturing and launch costs.

[0007] Therefore, there is an urgent need for an innovative technology that can break through the energy bottleneck of existing single satellites and provide flexible and reliable external energy replenishment for spacecraft in orbit. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the shortcomings and defects of the prior art and provide a space-based wireless power supply system and method based on dawn-dusk orbit, particularly a satellite on-orbit service technology, for wirelessly replenishing the energy of on-orbit spacecraft.

[0009] A first aspect of the present invention provides a space-based wireless power supply system based on a twilight orbit, characterized in that it comprises:

[0010] At least one energy satellite is deployed in a dawn-dusk sun-synchronous orbit; the energy satellite includes an energy harvesting unit for collecting solar energy and converting it into first electrical energy, and an energy transmitting unit for converting the first electrical energy into a wireless energy beam and transmitting it outward;

[0011] At least one customer satellite is deployed in a rechargeable orbit other than the stated sun-synchronous orbit; the customer satellite includes an energy receiving unit for receiving the wireless energy beam and converting it into second electrical energy, and a power management unit for supplying the second electrical energy to at least one electrical payload or energy storage unit of the customer satellite.

[0012] Preferably, the energy transmitting unit includes a microwave phased array antenna, which, based on phased array technology, enables inertia-free, flexible, and rapid beam scanning and pointing, and serves multiple targets in a time-division manner; correspondingly, the energy receiving unit is a microwave rectifier antenna array, a device that integrates antenna and rectifier circuits, and directly converts the received microwave signal into DC power.

[0013] Preferably, the energy emitting unit includes a high-power laser emitter and its beam directing system; correspondingly, the energy receiving unit is an adapted photovoltaic conversion unit, including a solar panel.

[0014] Preferably, the energy harvesting unit includes a large-area, high-efficiency solar panel.

[0015] Preferably, the energy satellite includes a control unit responsible for managing and distributing the collected electrical energy; the energy acquisition unit is connected to the power control unit, the power control unit is connected to the energy transmission unit, and the energy transmission unit converts the electrical energy from the power control unit into a wireless energy beam for transmission.

[0016] Preferably, the energy satellite includes an attitude control and alignment unit for controlling the energy satellite's own attitude to be in a desired stable state, while precisely controlling the energy emission unit's pointing towards the target.

[0017] Preferably, the energy satellite includes a first communication unit for information exchange between the customer satellite and the ground network operation center and the customer satellite.

[0018] Preferably, the customer satellite includes a power management unit connected to an energy receiving unit, an energy storage unit, and an electrical load, for distributing external electrical energy from the energy receiving unit and the energy from the energy storage unit to the electrical load.

[0019] Preferably, the customer satellite also includes a second communication unit for sending charging requests and its own status information.

[0020] A second aspect of the present invention provides a space-based wireless power supply method based on a twilight orbit, implemented according to the aforementioned space-based wireless power supply system based on a twilight orbit, comprising the following steps:

[0021] At least one energy satellite in a dawn-dusk sun-synchronous orbit collects solar energy and converts it into electricity.

[0022] The first electrical energy is converted into a wireless energy beam, and the wireless energy beam is transmitted from the energy satellite to at least one customer satellite deployed in different charging orbits via an energy transmission unit;

[0023] The customer satellite receives the wireless energy beam through the energy receiving unit and converts it into second electrical energy to supply its own electrical load or to charge its own energy storage unit.

[0024] Preferably, at least one customer satellite monitors its own power level in real time and sends a charging request to the ground network operation center when it determines that it needs to be replenished.

[0025] The ground network operation center responds to charging requests from at least one customer satellite, including its own ID, orbital parameters, and required power. Based on the orbital position and energy status of at least one energy satellite, it plans the optimal energy transfer sequence and time window, and sends energy transfer instructions to the designated target energy satellite within the predetermined time window, including the precise orbital data and transmission power of the target customer satellite.

[0026] According to the instructions, the energy source satellite drives its attitude control and alignment unit to accurately align the energy transmission unit with the target customer satellite; after the alignment is confirmed, the energy transmission unit begins to transmit wireless energy beams.

[0027] Preferably, during the charging process, the power management unit of the target customer satellite monitors the external energy input and intelligently controls the power supply to the power-consuming payload or energy storage unit according to the current power consumption of the satellite.

[0028] Preferably, during the charging process, once the target customer satellite has reached the predetermined charging amount or time, the power transmission ends; the target energy satellite and the target customer satellite respectively report the mission execution status to the ground center.

[0029] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows:

[0030] 1. Significantly extends satellite lifespan: By using external wireless power, the number of deep charge and discharge cycles of the customer satellite's own batteries is greatly reduced, which can extend its service life by several years or even longer.

[0031] 2. Breaking through peak power limitations: When customer satellites need to perform high-power tasks, "peak power support" can be provided on demand, enabling them to carry and use advanced payloads that far exceed their design power.

[0032] 3. Enables uninterrupted operation across all time zones: Even during a solar eclipse, the energy satellite can provide power to customer satellites, ensuring they can perform their missions 24 / 7.

[0033] 4. Optimize satellite design and reduce costs: Future customer satellites can significantly simplify or even remove their solar panels and batteries, becoming lighter, smaller, and less expensive, thereby lowering the launch threshold and allowing more payload to be carried with the same weight.

[0034] 5. Building a brand-new space business model: It has created a brand-new business model of "Energy-as-a-Service", which can revitalize existing assets and serve the massive constellations of the future. Attached Figure Description

[0035] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the system architecture of the space-based wireless power supply system provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure of the energy satellite in this embodiment of the invention.

[0037] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a customer satellite in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] Figure 4 This is a schematic flowchart of the space-based wireless power supply method provided in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0039] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention.

[0040] Reference Figure 1 This invention provides a space-based wireless power supply system based on a dawn-dusk orbit, comprising:

[0041] The system comprises an energy satellite 10 deployed in a sun-synchronous orbit, customer satellites 20 deployed in other rechargeable orbits (such as LEO, MEO, and GEO), and a ground network operation center 30 located on the Earth's surface. The energy satellite 10 utilizes the continuous sunlight of its orbit to continuously collect solar energy and, according to the scheduling instructions of the ground network operation center 30, converts the energy into a wireless energy beam R, which is then transmitted to the customer satellites 20 that require recharging. The customer satellites 20 receive the energy beam R and convert it back into electrical energy for their own use.

[0042] Reference Figure 2 The diagram illustrates the structure of an embodiment of the fallen energy satellite 10 of this application, comprising:

[0043] The energy harvesting unit 101, preferably a large-area, high-efficiency solar panel, is the original energy source of the entire system; the power control unit 102 is responsible for managing and distributing the harvested electrical energy; the energy transmitting unit 103 is the core of realizing wireless energy transmission, converting the electrical energy from the power control unit 102 into a wireless energy beam R.

[0044] In addition to the implementation of the tilting, the energy satellite 10 also includes an attitude control and alignment unit 104, which is used to ensure the stability of the attitude of the energy satellite 10 and to precisely control the energy emission unit 103 to point at the target.

[0045] In one implementation, the energy satellite 10 also includes a communication unit 105, which includes an antenna and is connected to the energy transmission unit and the attitude control and alignment unit, for exchanging information with the ground network operation center 30 and the customer satellite 20.

[0046] Reference Figure 3 The diagram illustrates the structure of a fallen customer satellite 20 according to an embodiment of this application, comprising:

[0047] The energy receiving unit 201 is responsible for receiving the wireless energy beam R and efficiently converting it back into electrical energy. The power management unit 202 is the intelligent "electrician" of the customer satellite, managing the external electrical energy from the energy receiving unit 201 and the electrical energy from its own energy storage unit 203, and rationally distributing it to the electrical payload 204. The energy storage unit 203, such as a battery pack, is the satellite's backup power source. The electrical payload 204 contains various instruments and equipment used by the satellite to perform its missions, such as communication antennas, remote sensing cameras, and data processors.

[0048] In one embodiment, the customer satellite 20 further includes a communication unit 205, which includes an antenna and is connected to the energy receiving unit 201, and is responsible for sending charging requests and its own status information.

[0049] In one optional embodiment, wireless power supply is based on microwave technology, with the wireless energy beam R being a microwave beam. Correspondingly, the energy transmitting unit 103 on the energy satellite 10 is specifically a microwave phased array antenna. Using phased array technology, inertia-free, flexible, and rapid beam scanning and pointing can be achieved, and theoretically, it can even serve multiple targets in a time-division manner. The energy receiving unit 201 on the customer satellite 20 is specifically a microwave rectifier antenna array. A rectifier antenna is a device that integrates an antenna and a rectifier circuit, capable of directly converting the received microwave signal into a microwave signal.

[0050] In one optional embodiment, wireless power supply is based on laser, with the wireless energy beam R being a high-power laser beam. Accordingly, the energy transmitting unit 103 on the energy satellite 10 is specifically a high-power laser transmitter and its beam directing system. The laser energy is concentrated and highly directional, suitable for ultra-long-distance point-to-point transmission. The energy receiving unit 201 on the customer satellite 20 is specifically a high-efficiency photovoltaic conversion unit optimized for a specific laser wavelength. It can be a small, specially designed solar panel whose semiconductor material bandgap perfectly matches the laser wavelength to achieve the highest photoelectric conversion efficiency.

[0051] Reference Figure 4 The implementation process of the space-based wireless power supply method provided by this invention is illustrated below:

[0052] S401. When the power of the customer satellite 20 is lower than the preset threshold, or when it needs to be replenished according to the known mission plan, it sends a charging request containing its own ID, orbital parameters, and required power to the ground network operation center 30 through the communication unit 205.

[0053] S402. The ground network operation center 30 receives charging requests from one or more customer satellites and, in conjunction with the orbital positions and energy status of all available energy satellites 10, performs scheduling planning, such as planning the optimal energy transmission sequence and time window through complex scheduling algorithms.

[0054] S403. During the predetermined time window, the ground network operation center 30 sends an energy transmission command to the designated energy satellite 10. The command includes precise orbital data and transmission power information of the target customer satellite 20.

[0055] S404. The energy satellite 10, according to instructions, drives its attitude control and alignment unit 104 to perform acquisition, tracking and alignment operations, accurately aligning the energy emission unit 103 with the target customer satellite 20.

[0056] S405. After alignment confirmation, the energy transmitting unit 103 begins to transmit the wireless energy beam R.

[0057] S406. The energy receiving unit 201 of the customer satellite 20 receives the energy beam R and converts it into direct current for electrical energy conversion.

[0058] S407. The power management unit 202 of the customer satellite 20 monitors the external energy input and intelligently allocates power according to the current power consumption of the satellite, directly supplying power to the power-consuming load 204, or charging the energy storage unit 203, or both.

[0059] S408. Once the predetermined charging amount or time is reached, charging is complete and transmission ends. Energy Satellite 10 and Customer Satellite 20 will each report the mission execution status to Ground Network Operation Center 30.

[0060] The foregoing has shown and described the basic principles, main features, and advantages of the present invention. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the details of the above exemplary embodiments, and that the present invention can be implemented in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or basic features of the present invention.

[0061] Therefore, the embodiments should be considered exemplary and non-limiting in all respects. The scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description, and all variations falling within the meaning and scope of the equivalents of the claims are intended to be included within the invention. Furthermore, it should be understood that although this specification describes embodiments, not every embodiment contains only one independent technical solution. This method of description is merely for clarity. Those skilled in the art should consider the specification as a whole, and the technical solutions in the various embodiments can be appropriately combined to form other embodiments that can be understood by those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A space-based wireless power supply system based on a dawn-dusk orbit, characterized in that, include: At least one energy satellite will be deployed in a dawn-dusk sun-synchronous orbit; The energy satellite includes an energy harvesting unit for collecting solar energy and converting it into first electrical energy, and an energy transmitting unit for converting the first electrical energy into a wireless energy beam and transmitting it outward. At least one customer satellite is deployed in a rechargeable orbit other than the stated sun-synchronous orbit; the customer satellite includes an energy receiving unit for receiving the wireless energy beam and converting it into second electrical energy, and a power management unit for supplying the second electrical energy to at least one electrical payload or energy storage unit of the customer satellite.

2. The space-based wireless power supply system based on a dawn-dusk orbit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The energy transmitting unit includes a microwave phased array antenna, which, based on phased array technology, enables inertia-free, flexible, and rapid beam scanning and pointing, and provides time-division multiple target services. Correspondingly, the energy receiving unit is a microwave rectifier antenna array, a device that integrates antenna and rectifier circuits, and directly converts the received microwave signal into DC power.

3. The space-based wireless power supply system based on a dawn-dusk orbit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The energy emitting unit includes a high-power laser emitter and its beam directing system; correspondingly, the energy receiving unit is an adapted photovoltaic conversion unit, including a solar panel.

4. The space-based wireless power supply system based on a dawn-dusk orbit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The energy harvesting unit includes large-area, high-efficiency solar panels.

5. The space-based wireless power supply system based on a dawn-dusk orbit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The energy satellite includes a control unit responsible for managing and distributing the collected electrical energy; the energy acquisition unit is connected to the power control unit, the power control unit is connected to the energy transmission unit, and the energy transmission unit converts the electrical energy from the power control unit into a wireless energy beam for transmission.

6. The space-based wireless power supply system based on a dawn-dusk orbit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The energy satellite includes an attitude control and alignment unit, which is used to control the energy satellite's own attitude to be in a expected stable state, while precisely controlling the energy emission unit's pointing towards the target.

7. The space-based wireless power supply system based on a dawn-dusk orbit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The energy satellite includes a first communication unit for information exchange between the customer satellite and the ground network operation center and the customer satellite.

8. The space-based wireless power supply system based on a dawn-dusk orbit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The customer satellite includes a power management unit connected to an energy receiving unit, an energy storage unit, and an electrical payload, used to distribute external electrical energy from the energy receiving unit and the electrical energy from the energy storage unit to the electrical payload.

9. The space-based wireless power supply system based on a dawn-dusk orbit according to claim 1, characterized in that, The customer satellite also includes a second communication unit for sending charging requests and its own status information.

10. A space-based wireless power supply method based on a dawn-dusk orbit, characterized in that, The implementation of the space-based wireless power supply system based on the twilight orbit according to any one of claims 1-9 includes the following steps: At least one energy satellite in a dawn-dusk sun-synchronous orbit collects solar energy and converts it into electricity. The first electrical energy is converted into a wireless energy beam, and the wireless energy beam is transmitted from the energy satellite to at least one customer satellite deployed in different charging orbits via an energy transmission unit; The customer satellite receives the wireless energy beam through the energy receiving unit and converts it into second electrical energy to supply its own electrical load or to charge its own energy storage unit. Preferably, at least one customer satellite monitors its own power level in real time and sends a charging request to the ground network operation center when it determines that it needs to be replenished. The ground network operation center responds to at least one customer satellite's charging request, including its own ID, orbital parameters, and required power. Based on the orbital position and energy status of at least one energy satellite, plan the optimal energy transfer sequence and time window, and send energy transfer instructions to the determined target energy satellite within the predetermined time window, including the precise orbital data and transmission power of the target customer satellite; According to the instructions, the energy source satellite drives its attitude control and alignment unit to accurately align the energy transmission unit with the target customer satellite; after the alignment is confirmed, the energy transmission unit begins to transmit wireless energy beams. Preferably, during the charging process, the power management unit of the target customer satellite monitors the external energy input and intelligently controls the power supply to the power-consuming payload or energy storage unit according to the current power consumption of the satellite. Preferably, during the charging process, the power transmission ends after the target customer satellite has reached the predetermined charging amount or the predetermined time. The target energy satellite and the target customer satellite will report the mission execution status to the ground center.

Images