Satellite Power Beaming With Angular Alignment for Peak Orbit Demand
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Solution Overview
Problem
In-space manufacturing satellites face challenges in meeting their power needs due to peak power requirements exceeding their stored power capacity, necessitating a reliable and efficient method for power distribution across a network of satellites without the need for individual solar panel systems.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a power beaming technology using an array of power generation satellites that automatically control and distribute power to customer satellites through angular alignment and blockchain-based ledger systems for tracking and billing, ensuring continuous and efficient power transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If individual solar panel systems are installed on each satellite, then each satellite can generate its own power, but the satellite's power capacity is limited by the space available for solar panels
Solution Approach 1:
A dedicated power supply satellite acts as an intermediary to provide power to customer satellites. The power supply satellite contains large power generation systems and transmits power wirelessly to customer satellites, allowing customer satellites to access power capacity far exceeding what their own solar panels could provide.
Solution Approach 2:
The power generation function is extracted from customer satellites and consolidated onto a dedicated power supply satellite. This separates the power generation responsibility from the customer satellites, allowing them to focus on their primary missions while receiving power from the specialized power supply platform.
2Power
If power is stored in satellite batteries, then power can be available during orbital night, but the stored power capacity is insufficient for peak power requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply satellite serves as an external power reservoir, providing power during peak demand periods and orbital night without requiring customer satellites to carry large battery systems. The intermediary transfers power on-demand from its own power generation and storage systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The power supply system enables dynamic power transmission that can respond to changing power demands of customer satellites. Power is transmitted wirelessly in real-time based on customer needs, allowing flexible adjustment of power delivery to match peak requirements without being constrained by fixed onboard storage capacity.
3Power
If wireless power beaming is used to transmit power over long distances, then power can be delivered to orbiting satellites, but precise angular alignment must be maintained between transmitting and receiving elements
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply satellite acts as a stable intermediary platform with large aperture transmitting elements. Its stationary position relative to customer satellites and large element size reduce the stringent alignment requirements that would exist if smaller, moving elements were used.
Solution Approach 2:
The power supply satellite provides multiple functions including power generation, power storage, and wireless power transmission through its large aperture elements. This multi-functional platform approach consolidates capabilities that would otherwise require separate systems, simplifying the overall alignment and control requirements.
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
This solution enables reliable and efficient power distribution among orbiting satellites, maintaining alignment and tracking power transmission, and facilitating secure, transparent billing within a decentralized network, thus addressing the power capacity limitations of individual satellites.
Implementation Method 1
Optical Power Beaming includes a process for converting electricity into laser light, sending the laser light some distance away
Implementation Method 2
converting the laser light back into usable electricity... caught using specialized solar panels
Data Source
AI summary
Providing power to orbiting satellites by providing an array including at least one power supply satellites, receiving a power request from a customer satellite, ensuring angular alignment between a power transmitting element of a supply satellite and a power receiving element of the customer satellite, transmitting power from the supply satellite to the customer satellite, and recording the quantity of power transmitted from the supply satellite to the customer satellite.