Space photovoltaic power generation system, power satellite, and electric power base

• US 20020029796A1
• Filed: 06/04/2001
• Published: 03/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Mikami, Izumi, Konishi, Yoshihiko, Takada, Kazuyuki
• Granted Patent: US 6,495,751 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/244
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/1085 Swarms and constellations
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/428 Power distribution and management
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/4282 for transmitting power to earth or other spacecraft
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/443 Photovoltaic cell arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy

Abstract

A space photovoltaic power generation system comprises a plurality of power satellites (1) arranged in space, each of which converts electrical energy, into which sunlight has been photoelectric-converted, into a microwave, and transmits the microwave to an electric power base. The system can thus transmit a microwave of high power to the electric power base. Each of the plurality of power satellites (1) modulates the generated microwave so as to generate an incoherent microwave before transmitting it to the electric power base, thus reducing the power density of the electric power transmitted to the electric power base on the earth and hence a loss in the total amount of energy transmitted to the electric power base on the earth.

Claims

1. A space photovoltaic power generation system comprising:

a plurality of power satellites each for generating electrical energy from sunlight in space, for generating an incoherent microwave from the generated electrical energy, and for transmitting the incoherent microwave; and

an electric power base located at a remote site for receiving a plurality of incoherent microwaves transmitted from said plurality of power satellites, and for generating electric power from the plurality of incoherent microwaves received.

2. The space photovoltaic power generation system according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of power satellites includes a condensing and power generating means for focusing sunlight in space and for converting the focused sunlight into electrical energy, and a transmission means for generating a microwave based on the electrical energy from said condensing and power generating means, for modulating the microwave so as to generate an incoherent microwave, and for transmitting the incoherent microwave to space.

3. The space photovoltaic power generation system according to claim 2, wherein said condensing and power generating means includes a plurality of condensing and power generating units each for focusing sunlight in space and for converting the focused sunlight into electrical energy, and said transmission means includes a plurality of transmission units each for generating a microwave based on the electrical energy from said condensing and power generating means, for modulating the microwave so as to generate an incoherent microwave, and for transmitting the incoherent microwave to space.

4. The space photovoltaic power generation system according to claim 1, wherein said electric power base includes a receiving means for receiving the plurality of incoherent microwaves transmitted from said plurality of power satellites, a microwave-to-DC conversion means for converting the plurality of incoherent microwaves received by said receiving means into DC electric power, and a transmission means for transmitting the DC electric power obtained by said microwave-to-DC conversion means.

5. A power satellite comprising:

a condensing and power generating means for focusing sunlight in space and for converting the focused sunlight into electrical energy; and

a transmission means for generating a microwave based on the electrical energy from said condensing and power generating means, for modulating the microwave so as to generate an incoherent microwave, and for transmitting the incoherent microwave to space.

6. The power satellite according to claim 5, wherein said condensing and power generating means includes a plurality of condensing and power generating units each for focusing sunlight in space and for converting the focused sunlight into electrical energy, and said transmission means includes a plurality of transmission units each for generating a microwave based on the electrical energy from said condensing and power generating means, for modulating the microwave so as to generate an incoherent microwave, and for transmitting the incoherent microwave to space.

7. An electric power base comprising:

a receiving means for receiving a plurality of incoherent microwaves transmitted from a plurality of power satellites;

a microwave-to-DC conversion means for converting the plurality of incoherent microwaves received by said receiving means into DC electric power; and

a transmission means for transmitting the DC electric power obtained by said microwave-to-DC conversion means.