Guided Surface Waveguide Probe for Energy Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a lack of practical structures for efficiently launching open surface guided waves over planar or spherical surfaces of lossy, homogeneous media, as theoretical analyses have not been translated into effective engineering solutions.
Innovation Solution
Guided surface waveguide probes are configured to excite electric fields that couple into a guided surface wave mode along the surface of a lossy conducting medium, such as the Earth, by synthesizing a wave front incident at a complex Brewster angle, thereby launching a guided electromagnetic field in the form of a guided surface wave.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If conventional antenna structures are used for electromagnetic field transmission, then radio frequency signals can be transmitted, but the field strength decays rapidly with distance and energy efficiency is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a lossy conducting medium (such as the Earth) as an intermediary to guide electromagnetic surface waves. This mediator enables efficient energy transmission along the surface without rapid decay, resolving the contradiction between energy efficiency and structural simplicity by using the Earth itself as the transmission medium rather than requiring complex conventional antenna structures
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of electromagnetic wave propagation from radiated fields to guided surface waves along a lossy conducting medium. By altering the propagation mode and using the Earth's conductivity, the system achieves practical energy transmission over distance without requiring complex antenna structures
2Productivity
If guided surface wave modes are excited on lossy media, then efficient energy transmission along the surface is achieved, but practical structures for launching these waves have been lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the transmission system into two functional segments: a simple vertical probe structure for wave excitation and the lossy conducting medium (Earth) for wave guidance. This segmentation allows the complex function of efficient surface wave transmission to be achieved through a simple structure combined with the natural properties of the Earth, resolving the contradiction between productivity and ease of manufacture
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs the Earth itself as the guiding medium for surface waves, allowing the system to utilize the natural conductivity and physical properties of the ground. This self-service approach eliminates the need for manufactured waveguide structures, achieving high energy transmission efficiency while maintaining structural simplicity and ease of implementation
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables the efficient launch of guided surface waves along lossy conducting media, achieving mode-matching with the surface wave mode and overcoming the limitations of traditional radiated electromagnetic fields.
Implementation Method 1
Guided surface waveguide probes configured to excite electric fields that couple into a guided surface wave mode along the surface of a lossy conducting medium
Implementation Method 2
by synthesizing a wave front incident at a complex Brewster angle
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of detecting the unauthorized consumption of electrical energy are described. In some embodiments, a system includes a guided surface waveguide probe that launches a guided surface wave along a surface of a terrestrial medium. The system further includes metering systems that are distributed within a geographical region associated with the guided surface waveguide probe. The system also includes at least one computing device and memory storing computer instructions that cause the at least one computing device to generate an energy flow map using data obtained from the metering systems.