Historic power beam energy test paves way to zap energy to troops from SPACE

[Boats]

Historic power beam energy test paves way to zap energy to troops from SPACE
By: Study Finds - News 04-22-22
Re: https://www.studyfinds.org/power-bea...gy-from-space/

WASHINGTON — Could soldiers in the future receive the power for their equipment from space? A team of researchers from the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) have demonstrated the feasibility of terrestrial microwave power beaming by transmitting 1.6 kilowatts of power over one kilometer (km).

The achievement, by a team at the U.S. Army Research Field in Blossom Point, Maryland, is reportedly the most significant power beaming demonstration in nearly 50 years. Microwave power beaming is the efficient, point-to-point transfer of electrical energy across free space by a directive microwave beam.

The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) believes wireless beaming of energy from space will be vital for zapping fuel supplies to battlefield troops. Scientists are also touting it as the “ultimate green technology,” with a constant year-round supply available as opposed to other “sporadic” green energy sources.

The 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.

Photo link: https://i0.wp.com/www.studyfinds.org...24%2C703&ssl=1
THIS PICTURE: Equipment at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Massachusetts.

“As engineers, we develop systems that will not exceed those safety limits,” says Paul Jaffe Ph.D., Power Beaming and Space Solar Lead, in a media release. “That means it’s safe for birds, animals, and people.”

Within 12 months, NRL established the practicality of terrestrial microwave power beaming and beamed one kilowatt (kW) of electrical power over a distance of one kilometer (0.62 miles) using a 10 gigahertz (GHz) microwave beam.

The beams even cut through bad weather:

Safe and Continuous Power Beaming – Microwave (SCOPE-M) demonstrated power beaming at two locations, one at the U.S. Army Research Field at Blossom Point and the other at The Haystack Ultrawideband 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,” Jaffe says.

“You don’t want to use too high a frequency as it can start losing power to the atmosphere,” adds project principal investigator, Christopher Rodenbeck, Ph.D., Head of the Advanced Concepts Group, NRL. “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 one kilometer. 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 notes that during past experiments with laser power beaming using much higher power densities, the engineers were able to successfully implement interlock systems so if something approached the beam it would turn off.

“We did not have to do that with SCOPE-M because the power density was sufficiently low that it was intrinsically safe,” Jaffe says.

‘Something no other form of clean energy can do’"

Brian Tierney, Ph.D., SCOPE-M electronics engineer, says the DOD is interested in wireless power beaming, particularly wireless power beaming from space, and that a similar rectenna (rectifying antenna) array as used for SCOPE-M could be used in space. A rectenna is a special type of receiving antenna for converting electromagnetic energy into direct current electricity in wireless power transmission systems.

“Although SCOPE-M was a terrestrial power beaming link, it was a good proof of concept for a space power beaming link,” Tierney says. “The main benefit of space to Earth power beaming for the DOD is to mitigate the reliance on the fuel supply for troops, which can be vulnerable to attack.”

Besides being a DOD priority, Rodenbeck says power beaming can provide power continuously, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year — unlike other sources of clean energy, which provides intermittent and sporadic electrical power.

“That is something no other form of clean energy can do today,” Rodenbeck adds. “From the standpoint of technology readiness level, I feel we are very close to demonstrating a system we can truly deploy and use in a DOD application.”

The project, Safe and Continuous Power bEaming – Microwave (SCOPE-M), is funded by the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Research and Engineering’s Operational Energy Capability Improvement Fund.

Note: South West News Service writer Dean Murray contributed to this report.
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Personal Thoughts:
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* Will beaming down light rays fix the generators - if our power goes out?
(No comment on that.)

* You will need power to turn the generators to feed good tranmission lines -
if they not fried - to get the power from there to the homes - if the generators
get knocked out out from nukes it could be awhile. We need redundency or
back ups if these get knocked out. Whats the time table? Not mentioned.

* It may be cost saving? But know doubt we tax payers will end up paying for
all the technology - and we civvies will be footing all the other bills as usual!

When done - will it be cost saving - unlikely. Maybe after 20 years of upgrades
- they may figure it out.