Space-based power system

• US 7,612,284 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2005
• Issued: 11/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Solaren Corporation
• Original Assignee: Solaren Corporation
• Inventors: Spirnak, Gary T., Rogers, James E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olsen; Kaj K
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dinh; Bach T
• Application Number:
  US11/212,824
• Publication Number:
  US 20060185726A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,531 Days
• Field of Search: 244/1, 322/2, 322/21, 342/356, 455/12.1
• US Class Current: 136/246
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/26 using jets
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/36 using sensors, e.g. sun-sensors, horizon sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/405 Ion or plasma engines per se F03H1/00
• 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 1/446 Thermal solar power generation
• CPC Class Codes: F24S 23/70 with reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0543 comprising light concentrating means of the refractive type, e.g. lenses
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 31/0547 comprising light concentrating means of the reflecting type, e.g. parabolic mirrors, concentrators using total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/46 Conversion of thermal power into mechanical power, e.g. Rankine, Stirling or solar thermal engines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/52 PV systems with concentrators
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/292 Space - satellite

Abstract

A space-based power system. The system maintains proper positioning and alignment of system components without using connecting structures. Power system elements are launched into orbit, and the free-floating power system elements are maintained in proper relative alignment, e.g., position, orientation, and shape, using a control system.

Claims

1. A space-based power system, comprising:

a plurality of free-floating power system elements in space, each free-floating power system element in space being separated from and not connected or tethered to another power system elements in space, the plurality of free-floating power system elements including a free-floating intermediate power system element that receives sunlight from one power system element in space and transmits the sunlight to another power system element in space; and

a control system having a plurality of control system elements, each power system element having a control system element so that power system elements can be aligned based on communications between control system components,

the plurality of power system elements being arranged to collect sunlight, generate electrical energy from the collected sunlight, and convert the electrical energy into a form for transmission to a pre-determined location.

2. The system of claim 1, at least one power system element being a mirror.

3. The system of claim 1, the predetermined location comprising a planet, a space station, a satellite or a moon.

4. The system of claim 1, the plurality of power system elements including:

a primary mirror;

an intermediate mirror, wherein the primary mirror reflects sunlight to the intermediate mirror;

a power module, wherein the intermediate mirror directs sunlight to the power module, and the power module generates electrical energy;

an emitter; and

a reflective mirror,

wherein the emitter converts the generated electrical energy into a form that can be transmitted, and the converted energy is provided to the reflective mirror, wherein the reflective mirror is configured to transmit the converted energy to a receiver at the predetermined location.

5. The system of claim 4, the power module comprising a photovoltaic module.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein solar cells of the photovoltaic module are co-located with the emitter.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the control system adjusts a position, an orientation or a shape of a power system element.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the control system maintains the alignment of all of the plurality of power system elements.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the control system includes a displacement element that is selectively activated to adjust a power system element in space.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the control system includes a plurality of sensors, wherein data of sensors of two power system elements is compared to determine whether the power system elements are properly aligned.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein sensors of adjacent power system elements are arranged to communicate with each other.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein a majority of the power system elements are free-floating in space.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein all of the power system elements are free-floating in space.

14. A space-based power system, comprising:

a plurality of free-floating power system elements in space, each free-floating power system element in space being separated from and not connected or tethered to another power system element in space, the plurality of free-floating power system elements including a free-floating intermediate power system element that receives sunlight from one power system element in space and transmits the sunlight to another power system element in space; and

a control system including a plurality of sensors and displacement elements, each power system element having a sensor and a displacement element, the power system elements being aligned based on communications between sensors and by selectively activating one or more displacement elements, the plurality of power system elements being arranged to collect sunlight, generate electrical energy from the collected sunlight, and convert the electrical energy into a form for transmission to a pre-determined location.

15. The system of claim 14, at least one power system element being a mirror.

16. The system of claim 14, the predetermined location comprising a planet, a space station, a satellite, or a moon.

17. The system of claim 14, the plurality of power system elements including:

a primary mirror;

a first intermediate mirror, wherein the primary mirror reflects sunlight to the intermediate mirror;

a power module, wherein the first intermediate mirror directs sunlight to the power module, and the power module generates electrical energy;

an emitter; and

a reflective mirror,

wherein the emitter converts the generated electrical energy into a form that can be transmitted, and the converted energy is provided to the reflective mirror, wherein the reflective mirror is configured to transmit the converted energy to a receiver at the predetermined location.

18. The system of claim 17, the power module comprising a photovoltaic module.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein solar cells of the photovoltaic module are co-located with the emitter.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the control system adjusts a position, an orientation or a shape of a power system element.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein the control system maintains the alignment of all of the plurality of power system elements.

22. The system of claim 14, wherein sensors of adjacent power system elements are arranged to communicate with each other.

23. The system of claim 14, wherein a majority of the power system elements are free-floating in space.

24. The system of claim 14, wherein all of the power system elements are free-floating in space.

25. A method of controlling free-floating power system elements to generate power in space and transmit the generated power to a predetermined location, the method comprising:

launching a plurality of power system elements and a control system into space, each power system element including an element of the control system, wherein a plurality of power system elements are free-floating in space, each free-floating power system element being separated from and not connected or tethered to another power system element in space;

positioning the plurality of power system elements in space so that a free-floating intermediate power system element in space receives sunlight from one power system element in space and transmits the sunlight to another power system element in space; and

maintaining alignment of the power system elements based on communications between control system elements so that the power system elements are configured to collect sunlight, generate electrical energy from the collected sunlight, and convert the electrical energy into a form suitable for transmission to the pre-determined location.