Optical energy transfer and conversion system
First Claim
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1. An optical power transfer system comprising:
- an actively cooled fiber spooler made up of a high thermal conductivity material;
a length of fiber for transmission of high optical energy, said length of fiber circumscribing at least part of said fiber spooler;
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 havingan 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.
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Abstract
An optical power transfer system comprising a fiber spooler, a fiber optic rotary joint mechanically connected to the fiber spooler, and an electrical power extraction subsystem connected to the fiber optic rotary joint with an optical waveguide. Optical energy is generated at and transferred from a base station through fiber wrapped around the spooler, through the rotary joint, and ultimately to the power extraction system at a remote mobility platform for conversion to another form of energy.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. An optical power transfer system comprising:
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an actively cooled fiber spooler made up of a high thermal conductivity material; a length of fiber for transmission of high optical energy, said length of fiber circumscribing at least part of said fiber spooler; 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification