32 results about "Space-based solar power" patented technology

Thermochemical processing systems for the production of electricity and chemicals using energy from an orbiting space solar power satellite (100). Methods of producing electricity and chemicals using the powerbeam (120). Systems and applications include the orbiting satellite, which intercepts solar energy (110) and directs a powerbeam to a lunar or planetary surface or a receiving system in space; rectennas (220) for the production of electricity; and concentrators (300), receivers (310) and thermochemical process systems for the production of fuels and other chemicals. Efforts are made to optimize the operation of the system through the utilization of solar energy, when available, plus the powerbeam from the satellite.

A space solar concentrator based on deployable reflectors attached to a panel base is described. Each of the reflectors includes sides coated with reflective coating on surfaces facing away from the base. In one embodiment, the sides of the reflector have thicker portion to provide stiffness for deployment absent compressive force, and thinner portion to reduce weight and storage energy. In another embodiment, both reflective sides are unfolded when the reflectors are in stowed position. During deployment, a stop side will limit the deployment of both reflective sides and ensure the proper reflecting position. In addition, these embodiments reduce the storage energy.

The present invention is primarily directed to cost-effective systems for using large reflective elements that track the sun on two axes to concentrate solar energy onto a receiver that can convert the sun's optical energy to a form usable for extensive displacement of combustion of fossil fuels. The structures of the tracker frame, tracking mechanism and tracker supports are co-optimized with the optical elements and the receiver for high efficiency, low cost, and ease of assembly, making moderate and large-scale implementations cost-competitive with fossil fuels for peak power, and, with suitable storage, for base-load power and dispatchable peaking power in sunny locations. Improvement to small-tracker two-axis systems and one-axis tracking systems that focus in two dimensions are also included, as are improvements in systems for space-based solar power.

A solar high-altitude power transmission line subsection detecting and automatic-snow-melting system and a control method. The system comprises a control end and a receiving end. The control end comprises a plurality of outer space solar power stations, a plurality of power transmitters and a plurality of controllers, wherein each outer space solar power station is an earth geostationary satellite with a solar power station, and the power transmitters and the controllers are disposed on the outer space solar power stations. The receiving end comprises a plurality of power receivers and a plurality of positioning information transmitters, wherein the power receivers and the positioning information transmitters are disposed at tops of high-altitude power transmission towers. By the solar high-altitude power transmission line subsection detecting and automatic-snow-melting system and the control method, real-time subsection detection of high-altitude power transmission lines can be achieved. In addition, the system is high in detecting speed and high in result precision.

The invention discloses a space solar power station sun tracking model movement control system comprising a flexible cable supporting system which enables a sun tracking / light concentrating mechanism to move to the target position and attitude by using a six-cable parallel mechanism and performs sun tracking movement; the sun tracking / light concentrating mechanism which performs sun tracking movement under driving of flexible cables for collecting sunlight; a control system which is used for realizing accurate positioning of the sun tracking / light concentrating mechanism and using an improved interpolation fuzzy control algorithm based on a nonlinear tracking differentiator; and a measurement system which realizes tracking measurement of the sun tracking / light concentrating mechanism by using a Leica measuring instrument and a 360-degree prism and outputs the actually measured data to a dedicated movement control card in real time. The space solar power station sun tracking model movement control system is high in reliability, great in stability, low in cost, flexible in control mode, extensible and great in control effect and can simulate operation of the real system in the space so as to collect sunlight at the maximum efficiency.

Disclosed are an electric aircraft positioning system based on space solar power stations and a control method thereof. The electric aircraft positioning system based on the space solar power stations comprises a control end and a receiving end, wherein the control end is composed of a plurality of the space solar power stations, a plurality of power transmitters and a plurality of positioning information transmitters, wherein the space solar power stations are geo-stationary satellites with solar power stations; the power transmitters and the information transmitters are arranged on the plurality of space power stations; the receiving end comprises a plurality of power receivers, a plurality of groups of high-capacity storage batteries and a plurality of positioning information receivers, and the power receivers, the high-capacity storage batteries and the positioning information receivers are arranged at the top and inside every electric aircraft and connected with one another to supply power for the electric aircraft. The electric aircraft positioning system based on the space solar power stations and the control method can achieve remote wireless power supply of the electric aircrafts and determine the spatial coordinates of the electric aircrafts in real time, and has the advantages of being energy-saving, environmentally friendly and accurate in positioning.

The present invention generally is a system and method for ground, atmospheric and space based solar powered electrical energy generation and transmission of beamed microwave power. Specifically it is a system and method for generating electrical energy from a plurality of photovoltaic cells dispersed on a flexible surface each in close proximity to and functionally connected to microwave generating and transmitting means for controllably forming one or more stronger microwave beams by combining a plurality of much weaker individual microwave beams. The invention can be a microwave beam weapon for detecting and transferring microwave energy to non-cooperative targets or it clear orbital debris by momentum transfer to space object through microwave radiation pressure. Most practically it can provide electric power and microwave beam weapon defense to remote military and civilian facilities, including forward operating bases.