Optical Energy Transfer and Conversion System

• US 20150357868A1
• Filed: 07/27/2015
• Published: 12/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stone Aerospace, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Piedra - Sombra Corporation, Inc.
• Inventors: Stone, William C., Hogan, Bartholomew P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,869,819 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 33/00 Arrangements in aircraft of power plant parts or auxiliaries not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0085 Adaptations of electric power generating means for use in boreholes
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 47/135 using light waves, e.g. infrared or ultraviolet waves
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3604 Rotary joints allowing relative rotational movement between opposing fibre or fibre bundle ends
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4268 Cooling of semiconductor devices H01L23/24; of electric apparatus H05K7/20; of instruments G12B15/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4296 coupling with sources of high radiant energy, e.g. high power lasers, high temperature light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4415 Cables for special applications G02B6/4429, G02B6/4439, G02B6/4479 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4436 Heat resistant
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4458 Coiled, e.g. extensible helix
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/30 using light, e.g. lasers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 10/13 characterised by the heat-exchanging means at the junction

Abstract

An optical energy transfer and conversion system comprising a fiber spooler and an electrical power extraction subsystem connected to the spooler with an optical waveguide. Optical energy is generated at and transferred from a base station through fiber wrapped around the spooler, and ultimately to the power extraction system at a remote mobility platform for conversion to another form of energy. The fiber spooler may reside on the remote mobility platform which may be a vehicle, or apparatus that is either self-propelled or is carried by a secondary mobility platform either on land, under the sea, in the air or in space.

Claims

1. An optical energy transfer and conversion system comprising:

an optical power source capable of generation of high optical energy;

an actively cooled fiber spooler made up of a high thermal conductivity material;

a length of fiber for transmission of said high optical energy, said length of fiber circumscribing at least part of said fiber spooler and optically connected to said optical power source;

a remote mobile platform;

at least one high power optical coupler having a first end and a second end, said first end of said at least one high power optical coupler connected to said length of fiber and said second end of at least one high power optical coupler connected to said remote mobile platform; and

a power extraction subsystem on said remote mobile platform, said power extraction subsystem having

an optical energy input for receiving high optical energy, said optical energy input connected to said length of fiber,

a refractory beam dump having a cavity and at least one heat exchanger channel,

a refractory target within said cavity,

beam forming optics orientated to receive said high optical energy from said optical energy input and direct the received said high optical energy to said refractory target;

an array of thermoelectric converters, said thermoelectric converters having an interior side and an exterior side, said interior side connected to said refractory beam dump and said exterior side exposed to a cold environment creating a temperature gradient; and

wherein said high optical energy is converted to another form of energy usable by said remote mobile platform.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said fiber spooler further comprises:

a housing having a longitudinal axis, a housing sidewall, an external sidewall surface, and an internal sidewall surface;

at least one mandrel radially within said housing having a mandrel sidewall, said mandrel sidewall and said housing sidewall defining an annular fiber feed channel therebetween, said at least one mandrel having at least one winding surface defining at least one circumferential groove, said mandrel sidewall having at least one circumferential channel formed therein;

an active cooling system having a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet, both in fluid communication with said at least one circumferential channel; and

a plurality of panels protruding radially outwardly from said external sidewall surface of said housing.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said actively cooled fiber spooler further comprises:

a mount;

a drum having a cylindrical drum body and a longitudinal axis, said drum rotatably connected to said mount and having a longitudinal axis;

at least one fluid channel extending through said drum body; and

wherein said length of fiber is at least partially wound around said drum.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said optical power source is a laser.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein said length of fiber is pulled out linearly in a direction parallel to the center axis of said at least one mandrel.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said high optical energy is in the range of kilowatts to tens of megawatts.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said actively cooled fiber spooler is mounted on said remote mobile platform.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said remote mobile platform is an autonomous underwater vehicle.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein said remote mobile platform is a remotely operated vehicle.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein said remote mobile platform is an unmanned aerial vehicle.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein said remote mobile platform is a planetary rover.

12. The system of claim 3, wherein said high optical energy is in the range of kilowatts to tens of megawatts.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said actively cooled fiber spooler is mounted on said remote mobile platform.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said remote mobile platform is an autonomous underwater vehicle.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein said remote mobile platform is a remotely operated vehicle.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein said remote mobile platform is an unmanned aerial vehicle.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein said remote mobile platform is a planetary rover.