Thermal IR Waveguide Power Transfer for Long-Distance Off-Earth Energy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current energy conversion and transmission systems for off-earth applications face inefficiencies and mass penalties, particularly in converting moderate to high temperature thermal energy to electricity, and transmitting energy over long distances, with existing technologies suffering from low conversion efficiencies and environmental hazards.
Innovation Solution
A system that converts thermal blackbody radiation to thermal infrared energy and transmits it using a low-loss dielectric waveguide, followed by conversion to electricity, utilizing a solar concentrator, receiver/converter/transmitter, and photovoltaic converter to achieve efficient energy transmission and distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If electromagnetic radiation is used for wireless power transmission, then transmission distance is improved, but energy loss increases due to sidelobe and conversion losses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional electromagnetic radiation-based wireless power transmission with a particle beam-based system. Instead of using photons that disperse and create sidelobes, the invention uses accelerated particles (ions or electrons) confined within a magnetic nozzle to create a directed beam that can be transmitted over long distances with minimal energy loss and no harmful electromagnetic radiation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the fundamental parameter of energy carrier from electromagnetic waves to accelerated particles. By controlling particle acceleration, magnetic field configuration, and beam confinement parameters, the system achieves long-distance transmission with significantly reduced energy loss compared to traditional RF or microwave-based wireless power transmission.
2Productivity
If particle acceleration is used for energy conversion, then conversion efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and utilizes only the essential components needed for particle acceleration and beam formation: an electron source, acceleration grid, and magnetic nozzle. By removing unnecessary components from traditional complex particle accelerators and keeping only the critical elements, the system achieves high conversion efficiency while maintaining relatively simple device architecture suitable for space applications.
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 approach achieves higher conversion efficiencies, reduces mass requirements, and mitigates environmental hazards, enabling efficient energy transmission and utilization in off-earth environments with improved performance compared to traditional systems.
Implementation Method 1
convert thermal blackbody radiation to thermal infrared energy
Implementation Method 2
transmitting it using a low-loss dielectric waveguide
Implementation Method 3
followed by conversion to electricity
Data Source
AI summary
An energy conversion and transmission system includes a thermal energy converter configured to convert thermal blackbody radiation energy to thermal infrared (IR) energy and to output a thermal IR energy stream. The system further includes a transmission device configured to receive the thermal IR energy stream from the thermal energy converter at a first location and output the thermal IR energy stream at a second location. The transmission device supplies the thermal IR energy stream to a thermal IR energy destination at the second location.