Wireless Power Transmission Using 10 GHz
/Paul Jaffe KJ4IKI and team at U.S. Naval Research Laboratory have succeeded in transferring 1.6 kw of power over a 1 km path using 10 GHz
The US Navy describes it as being "the most significant power beaming demonstration in nearly 50 years."
The aim was to demonstrate power beaming of 1 kW of electrical power over a distance of 1 km using 10 GHz. The two sites used were the U.S. Army Research Field at Blossom Point in Maryland, and The Haystack Ultra Wideband Satellite Imaging Radar (HUSIR) transmitter at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
“The reason for setting those targets is to push this technology farther than has been demonstrated before.”
“You don’t want to use too high a frequency as it can start losing power to the atmosphere. 10 GHz is a great choice because the component technology out there is cheap and mature. Even in heavy rainfall, loss of power is less than five percent.”
In Maryland, the team exceeded their target by 60 percent by beaming 1.6 kW just over 1 km. At the Massachusetts site, the team did not have the same peak power, but the average power was much higher thereby delivering more energy. Jaffe said these demonstrations pave the way for power beaming on Earth, in space, and from space to Earth using power densities within safety limits set by international standards bodies.
“As engineers, we develop systems that will not exceed those safety limits. That means it’s safe for birds, animals, and people.”
