Large-scale space-based solar power station: multi-scale modular space power

• US 10,144,533 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2015
• Issued: 12/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Atwater, Harry A., Hajimiri, Seyed Ali, Pellegrino, Sergio, Abiri, Behrooz, Bohn, Florian, Bosco, Jeffrey P., Callahan, Dennis, Warmann, Emily C., Arya, Manan, Lee, Nicolas, Delapierre, Melanie
• Primary Examiner(s): Topolski, Magdalena
• Application Number:
  US14/712,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20160380580A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,300 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/1085 Swarms and constellations
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/222 for deploying structures between a stowed and deployed state
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/283 using reaction wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/286 using control momentum gyroscopes (CMGs)
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/36 using sensors, e.g. sun-sensors, horizon sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/369 using gyroscopes as attitude sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/401 Liquid propellant rocket engines Ion or plasma engines B64G1/413; Arcjets and other resistojets B64G1/415
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/403 Solid propellant rocket engines
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/405 Ion or plasma engines per se F03H1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/407 Solar sailing
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/415 Arcjets or resistojets
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/428 Power distribution and management
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/44 using radiation, e.g. deployable solar arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/443 Photovoltaic cell arrays
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/66 Arrangements or adaptations of apparatus or instruments, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/042 PV modules or arrays of single PV cells supporting structures for PV modules H02S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/24 of photovoltaic origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/40 Synchronising a generator for connection to a network or to another generator
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/23 characterised by the type of transmitting antennas, e.g. directional array antennas or Yagi antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/30 : using light, e.g. lasers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 : involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 : involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 10/40 : Mobile PV generator systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/25 : Roof tile elements
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 20/30 : Supporting structures being movable or adjustable, e.g. for angle adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 30/10 : Frame structures
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 30/20 : Collapsible or foldable PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/30 : Electrical components
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/36 : characterised by special electrical interconnection means between two or more PV modules, e.g. electrical module-to-module connection
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/38 : Energy storage means, e.g. batteries, structurally associated with PV modules
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 40/42 : Cooling means cooling means directly associated or integrated with the PV cell H01L31/052
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/10 : Photovoltaic [PV]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/52 : PV systems with concentrators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 : Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 : Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin

Abstract

A space-based solar power station, a power generating satellite module and/or a method for collecting solar radiation and transmitting power generated using electrical current produced therefrom is provided. Each solar power station includes a plurality of satellite modules. The plurality of satellite modules each include a plurality of modular power generation tiles including a photovoltaic solar radiation collector, a power transmitter and associated control electronics. The power transmitters can be coordinated as a phased array and the power generated by the phased array is transmitted to one or more power receivers to achieve remote wireless power generation and delivery. Each satellite module may be formed of a compactable structure capable of reducing the payload area required to deliver the satellite module to an orbital formation within the space-based solar power station.

Claims

1. A space-based solar power station comprising:

a plurality of unconnected satellite modules disposed in space in an orbital array formation;

a plurality of power generation tiles disposed on each of the plurality of satellite modules;

at least one photovoltaic cell disposed on each of the plurality of power generation tiles;

at least one power transmitter disposed on each of the plurality of power generation tiles and collocated thereon with each of the at least one photovoltaic cell and in signal communication therewith such that an electrical current generated by the collection of solar radiation by the at least one photovoltaic cell powers the corresponding at least one power transmitter, where each of the at least one power transmitters comprises;

an antenna; and

control electronics that controls the phase of a radio frequency power signal that feeds the antenna such that a phased array can be formed between at least one of the at least one power transmitters and power transmitters on any of the plurality of power generation tiles on any one of the unconnected satellite modules, any of the plurality of power generation tiles on the same satellite module, and each of the plurality of power generation tiles on all of the unconnected satellite modules.

2. The space-based solar power station of claim 1, wherein satellite modules are disposed in a geosynchronous orbit.

3. The space-based solar power station of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of unconnected satellite modules further comprises a propulsion system incorporating guidance control circuitry that controls at least one of an orientation and a position of each of the plurality of unconnected satellite modules within the orbital array formation.

4. The space-based solar power station of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of power generation tiles further comprises one or more position sensors for determining a position of the antenna relative to the other antennas of the phased array.

5. The space-based solar power station of claim 1, wherein the control electronics receive location information from a reference signal to determine a location of the antenna.

6. The space-based solar power station of claim 5, wherein the reference signal is externally generated from one of either a global position system or an international ground station.

7. The space-based solar power station of claim 5, wherein the reference signal is generated locally on each of the plurality of unconnected satellite modules.

8. The space-based solar power station of claim 5, wherein the control electronics utilize the location information from the reference signal to coordinate the phase shift of the radio frequency power signal.

9. The space-based solar power station of claim 1, wherein the control electronics control the phase of the radio frequency power signal such that the directionality of the radio-frequency power signal is electronically steerable.

10. The space-based solar power station of claim 9, wherein the phase of the radio frequency power signals of each of the at least one power transmitters is coordinated such that the radio frequency power signals are electronically steerable to one or more power receiving rectennas located remotely from the space-based solar power station.

11. The space-based solar power station of claim 1, wherein the control circuitry further comprises a power amplifier for converting the electrical current to the radio-frequency power signal.

12. The space-based solar power station of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of unconnected satellite modules are in wireless communication with each of the plurality of other unconnected satellite modules such that at least phase control information is exchanged therebetween.

13. The space-based solar power station of claim 1, wherein the at least one photovoltaic cell further comprises an absorber having a radiation shield disposed on a face thereof onto which the solar radiation is incident, and a conductive material disposed on an opposite face thereof.

14. The space-based solar power station of claim 13, wherein the absorber is formed from a material selected from the group of silicon, CdTe, and GalnP/GaAs.

15. The space-based solar power station of claim 1, wherein the plurality of power generation tiles further comprise a collector disposed thereon and configured to concentrate incident solar radiation on the photovoltaic cell.

16. The space-based solar power station of claim 15, wherein the collector is selected from the group consisting of Cassegrain, parabolic, nonparabolic, hyperbolic and combinations thereof.

17. The space-based solar power station of claim 1, wherein the plurality of power generation tiles further comprise a temperature management device configured to control an operating temperature of the power generation tile.

18. The space-based solar power station of claim 17, wherein the temperature management device comprises a radiative heat sink.

19. The space-based solar power station of claim 1, wherein the antenna is selected from the group consisting of dipole, helical and patch.

20. The space-based solar power station of claim 1, wherein the satellite modules are formed of at least two movably interrelated elements such that a dimensional extent of the satellite modules in at least one axis is compactible.

21. The space-based solar power station of claim 20, wherein the movably interrelated elements are foldable relative to each other by one of the following z-folding, fan-folding, double z-folding, Miura-ori, and slip-folding.

22. The space-based power station of claim 21, wherein the folded movably interrelated elements are further compacted by symmetric wrapping.

23. The space-based power station of claim 20, wherein the movably interrelated elements are prestressed such that a tensional force is distributed thereacross.

24. The space-based power station of claim 20, further comprising a deployment mechanism engageable with the at least two movably interrelated elements to apply a force thereto such that the elements are moved relative to each other on application of the force.

25. The space-based power station of claim 24, wherein the deployment mechanism comprises one or more elongated booms.

26. The space-based power station of claim 24, wherein the deployment mechanism comprises weighted elements, and wherein the force is applied by rotating the satellite module.

27. The space-based solar power station of claim 1, wherein each of the satellite modules are formed of a plurality of movably interrelated elements, and wherein the movably interrelated elements are slip-wrapped to reduce a dimensional extent of the satellite module along at least two axes.

28. The space-based solar power station of claim 27, wherein each of the plurality of movably interrelated elements are interconnected with each adjacent of the plurality of movable interrelated elements by a slip-fold, and wherein the edges of the plurality of movably interrelated elements are continuously interconnected.

29. The space-based solar power station of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of power generation tiles are formed of a plurality of movably interrelated elements such that at least the photovoltaic cell and power transmitter of each power generation tile are movable relative to each other such that a dimensional extent of the power generation tiles are reducible along at least one axis.

30. The space-based solar power station of claim 29, wherein the movably interrelated elements of the power generation tiles are interconnected through one or more resilient members.