METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING SOLAR RADIATION TO ELECTRICAL POWER

• US 3,781,647 A
• Filed: 07/26/1971
• Issued: 12/25/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Peter E. Glaser
• Original Assignee: Peter E. Glaser
• Inventors: Glaser, Peter E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Duggan, D. F.
• Application Number:
  US05/165,893
• Time in Patent Office: 883 Days
• Field of Search: 310/4 307/43,149,153 322/2,99 250/212 325/4,26,37,115,185 321/8R
• US Class Current: 322/2.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/428 Power distribution and management
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/443 Photovoltaic cell arrays
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02S 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/50 Photovoltaic [PV] energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 136/292 Space - satellite

Abstract

Solar radiation is collected and converted to microwave energy by means maintained in outer space on a satellite system. The microwave energy is then transmitted to earth and converted to electrical power for distribution.

Claims

1. An apparatus for converting solar radiation energy to electrical power, comprising in combination a. a satellite system comprising at least one geostationary satellite positioned such that said satellite is in energyreceiving relationship to the sun;

b. solar energy collector/converter means associated with each of said satellites adapted to collect and convert radiation received from the sun to d.c. electrical energy;

c. solar energy collector/converter guidance and control means adapted to orient said solar energy collector/converter in a predetermined relationship with said sun;

d. dc-to-microwave energy converter means adapted to convert said d.c. electrical energy from said solar energy collector/converter to microwave energy;

e. articulated electric power transmission means connecting said solar energy collector/converter means with said dc-tomicrowave energy converter means;

f. microwave beamforming and energy transmission means adapted to form said microwave energy into a beam of a predetermined configuration suitable for transmission from said satellite system and to transmit said beam from said satellite system;

g. microwave collection zone means on earth;

h. microwave beamforming and energy transmission guidance and control means adapted to direct said microwave beam to said collection zone means on earth; and

i. microwave collector/converter means located within said collection zone means and adapted to receive said microwave beam and to convert it to electric power.

2. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said satellite system comprises a plurality of said satellites positioned with respect to each other such that at least one of said satellites is always in energy-receiving relationship with the sun.

3. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said solar energy collection and conversion means comprises a large surface area platform member divided into sectors, each sector being formed of a plurality of cells capable of converting solar radiant energy to electrical energy.

4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said electric power transmission means comprises superconducting cable means and said apparatus includes cryogenic refrigerator means adapted to maintain said cable means in a superconducting state.

5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including cooling means associated with said solar collector/converter means.

6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including phase control means adapted to control the phase of said microwave beam.

7. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including means to control the temperature of said dc-to-microwave energy converter means.

8. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including means to control the temperature of said microwave beamforming and energy transmission means.

9. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including fail safe switch means connected to one or a combination of said solar energy collector/converter means, dc-to-microwave energy converter means, said electric power transmission means and said microwave beamforming and energy transmission means.

10. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including means to control the temperature of said microwave collector/converter means.

11. An apparatus in accordance with claim 1 including earthbased electric power transmission means connecting said microwave collector/converter means with predetermined distribution points.

12. An apparatus in accordance with claim 11 wherein said earthbased electric power transmission means are superconducting cable means and said apparatus includes cryogenic refrigerator means adapted to maintain said cable means in a superconducting state.

13. An apparatus for converting solar radiation energy to electrical power, comprising in combination a. a satellite system comprising at least one geostationary satellite positioned such that said satellite is in energy-receiving relationship to the sun;

b. solar energy collector/converter means associated with each of said satellites adapted to collect and convert radiation received from the sun to d.c. electrical energy;

c. solar energy collector/converter guidance and control means adapted to orient said solar energy collector/converter in a predetermined relationship with said sun;

d. cooling means associated with said solar collector/converter means;

e. dc-to-microwave energy converter means adapted to convert said d.c. electrical energy from said solar energy collector/converter to microwave energy;

f. means to control the temperature of said dc-to-microwave energy converter means;

g. articulated electric power transmission means connecting said solar energy collector/converter means with said dc-to-microwave energy converter means and comprising superconducting cable means;

h. cryogeniC refrigerator means adapted to maintain said cable means in a superconducting state;

i. microwave beamforming and energy transmission means adapted to form said microwave energy into a beam of a predetermined configuration suitable for transmission from said satellite system and to transmit said beam from said satellite system;

j. means to control the temperature of said microwave beamforming and energy transmission means;

k. phase control means adapted to control the phase of said microwave beam;

l. microwave beamforming and energy transmission guidance and control means adapted to direct said microwave beam to a predetermined collection zone on earth;

m. fail safe switch means connected to one or a combination of said solar energy collector/converter means, dc-to-microwave energy converter means, said electric power transmission means and said microwave beamforming and energy transmission means;

n. microwave collector/converter means located within said collection zone and adapted to receive said microwave beam and to convert it to electric power;

o. means to control the temperature of said microwave collector/converter means;

p. earthbased electric power transmission means connecting said microwave collector/converter means with predetermined distribution points and comprising superconducting cable means; and

q. cryogenic refrigerator means adapted to maintain said earthbased electric power transmission means in a superconducting sate.

14. An apparatus in accordance with claim 13 wherein said satellite system comprises a plurality of said satellites positioned with respect to each other such that at least one of said satellites is always in energy-receiving relationship with the sun.

15. A method of converting solar radiation energy to electrical power on earth, comprising the steps of a. collecting and converting solar energy to dc power in outer space;

b. transmitting in outer space said dc power over electrical cables to a dc-to-microwave energy converter;

c. converting the transmitted dc power to microwave energy in outer space;

d. forming in outer space a beam of said microwave energy having a predetermined, optimized beam power pattern shape;

e. transmitting said beam of microwave energy to a predetermined collection zone on earth;

f. collecting said microwave energy; and

g. converting the collected microwave energy into dc power on earth.

16. A method in accordance with claim 15 wherein said electrical cables are superconducting and said method includes the step of supplying cryogenic refrigeration to maintain said cables in the superconducting state.

17. A method in accordance with claim 15 wherein the steps of collecting said microwave energy and converting it into dc power are combined into a single step.

18. A method in accordance with claim 15 wherein steps (a) - (e) are performed on a geostationary satellite.

19. A method in accordance with claim 18 including the step of continually orienting that portion of said geostationary satellite wherein said step of collecting and converting solar energy to dc power is performed with respect to the sun.