Weather management using space-based power system

• US 20060201547A1
• Filed: 02/22/2006
• Published: 09/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Solaren Corporation
• Original Assignee: Solaren Corporation
• Inventors: Spirnak, Gary T., Rogers, James E.
• Application Number:
  US11/359,852
• Publication Number:
  US 20060201547A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/201
• 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 10/52 PV systems with concentrators

Abstract

Space-based power system and method of altering weather using space-born energy. The space-based power 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. Energy from the space-based power system is applied to a weather element, such as a hurricane, and alters the weather element to weaken or dissipate the weather element. The weather element can be altered by changing a temperature of a section of a weather element, such as the eye of a hurricane, changing airflows, or changing a path of the weather element.

Claims

1. A method of altering weather using space-born energy, comprising:

generating energy in space using a space-based power system; and

applying generated energy to a weather element to alter and weaken the weather element.

2. The method of claim 1, generating energy in space comprising generating RF energy at a frequency of about 2 GHz to about 12 GHz.

3. The method of claim 2, generating RF energy in space comprising generating focused RF energy in space, focused RF energy having a diameter of about 1 km to about 10 km.

4. The method of claim 1, applying generated energy comprising applying about 10⁹ watts/km² of energy to the weather element.

5. The method of claim 1, applying generated energy comprising applying the generated energy to a hurricane.

6. The method of claim 5, applying generated energy to the hurricane comprising applying generated energy to an eye of the hurricane.

7. The method of claim 6, applying the generated energy to the eye of the hurricane comprising applying generated energy to a top or middle of the eye.

8. The method of claim 1, applying generated energy comprising applying generated energy to a typhoon, a tropical cyclone, or a cyclonic storm.

9. The method of claim 1, applying generated energy comprising applying generated energy to or adjacent to multiple thunderstorms.

10. The method of claim 1, applying generated energy comprising applying generated energy at an altitude of about sea level to about 20,000 meters.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying sufficient generated energy to dissipate the weather element.

12. The method of claim 1, the weather element being a hurricane, and applying generated energy reducing the strength of the hurricane by at least one category.

13. The method of claim 1, applying generated energy altering a temperature of a section of the weather element.

14. The method of claim 13, altering the temperature comprising increasing the temperature by about 2°

C. to about 12°

C.

15. The method of claim 1, applying generated energy altering an airflow of a section of the weather element.

16. The method of claim 15, altering the airflow comprising altering a downward airflow of the section of the weather element.

17. The method of claim 15, applying generated energy creating an inversion layer, the inversion layer being at a temperature that is higher than a temperature of an air flow and impeding or halting the air flow.

18. The method of claim 1, applying generated energy altering a direction of a path of the weather element.

19. The method of claim 1, applying generated energy comprising repeatedly applying generated energy to the weather element as the weather element moves along a path.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising inserting one or more energy absorbing elements into the weather element, wherein an energy absorbing element absorbs energy generated by the space-based power system and converts absorbed energy to thermal energy that is transferred to the weather element to alter and weaken the weather element.

21. A method of altering weather using space-born energy, comprising:

generating RF energy in space using a space-based power system;

focusing the generated RF energy; and

applying focused RF energy to a weather element to alter and weaken the weather element.

22. The method of claim 21, applying focused RF energy comprising applying focused RF energy having a diameter of about 1 km to about 10 km.

23. The method of claim 21, applying focused RF energy comprising applying focused RF energy at a frequency of about 2 GHz to about 12 GHz.

24. The method of claim 21, applying focused RF energy comprising applying about 10⁹ watts/km² of focused RF energy to the weather element.

25. The method of claim 21, applying focused RF energy comprising repeatedly applying focused RF energy to the weather element as the weather element moves along a path.

26. The method of claim 21, further comprising

inserting one or more energy absorbing elements into the weather element, wherein energy absorbing elements absorb focused RF energy generated by the space-based power system and convert absorbed energy to thermal energy that is transferred to the weather element to alter and weaken the weather element.

27. The method of claim 21, applying generated RF energy altering an airflow of a section of the weather element.

28. The method of claim 27, altering the airflow comprising altering a downward airflow of the section of the weather element.

29. The method of claim 21, applying generated RF energy creating an inversion layer, the inversion layer being at a temperature that is higher than a temperature of the air flow, thereby impeding or halting the air flow.

30. The method of claim 21, applying generated RF energy altering a direction of a path of the weather element.

31. A method of altering weather using space-born energy, comprising:

generating RF energy in space using a space-based power system;

focusing generated RF energy to a diameter of about 1 km to about 10 km; and

applying at least about 10⁹ watts/km² of focused RF energy to a weather element to alter a temperature of a section of the weather element and weaken the weather element.

32. A method of altering weather using space-born energy, comprising:

generating RF energy in space using a space-based power system;

focusing the generated RF energy to a diameter of about 5 km;

applying at least about 10⁹ watts/km² of focused RF energy to a weather element, thereby altering an airflow of the weather element and weakening the weather element.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein applying at least 10⁹ watts/km of focused RF energy creates an inversion layer, the inversion layer being at a temperature that is higher than the temperature of an air flow, thereby impeding or halting the air flow.

34. A method of altering weather using space-born energy, comprising:

generating RF energy in space using a space-based power system;

focusing the generated RF energy to a diameter of about 5 km;

applying at least about 10⁹ watts/km² of focused RF energy to a weather element to change a path of the weather element.

35. A method of altering weather using space-born energy, comprising:

inserting one or more energy absorbing elements into a weather element;

generating RF energy in space using a space-based power system;

focusing the generated RF energy;

directing at least about 10⁹ watts/km² of focused RF energy to one or more energy absorbing elements that absorb focused RF energy generated by the space-based power system and convert absorbed energy to thermal energy that is transferred to the weather element to alter and weaken the weather element.

36. A space-based power system for altering weather, comprising:

a plurality of power system elements in space, the plurality of power system elements including at least one intermediate power system element in space that receives sunlight from one power system element in space and transmits the sunlight to another power system element in space; and

a distributed control system that maintains alignment of one or more free-floating power system elements based on communications between control system elements of adjacent power system elements, the plurality of power system elements in space including a control system component of the distributed control system;

wherein

one or more of the elements of the plurality of power system elements are free-floating, and the plurality of power system elements are arranged to collect sunlight, generate electrical energy from the collected sunlight, and convert the electrical energy into RF energy that is applied to a weather element and to alter and weaken the weather element.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein a power system element focuses RF energy to a diameter of about 2 km to about 10 km.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein about about 10⁹ watts/km² of RF energy is applied to the weather element.

39. The system of claim 36, wherein the weather element is a hurricane.

40. The system of claim 36, further comprising an energy absorbing element that is inserted into the weather element, absorbs RF energy generated by the space-based power system, and converts absorbed energy to thermal energy that is transferred to the weather element to alter and weaken the weather element.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the energy absorbing element is aluminum oxide.

42. The system of claim 40, wherein the energy absorbing element is plastic.

43. The system of claim 40, wherein the energy absorbing element has an iron oxide coating.

44. The system of claim 40, wherein the energy absorbing element has a length of about 0.6″

, a width of about 0.01″ and

a thickness of about 0.001″

.

45. The system of claim 40, wherein a length of the energy absorbing element is about 50% of the wavelength of the generated RF energy.

46. The system of claim 40, wherein the weight per square centimeter of surface area of an energy absorbing element is sufficiently low so that the energy absorbing element is substantially buoyant with the weather element.

47. The system of claim 42, wherein the energy absorbing element absorbs energy at a frequency of about 2 GHz to about 12 GHz.