Wireless Transmission of Electricity – Development

and Possibility

Abstract –In the present paper waveguide impedance to the

the various technologies antenna input impedance.
available so far for wireless The slotted waveguide antenna
transmission of electricity and consists of 8 waveguide
theneed for a Wireless System of sections with 8 slots on each
Energy Transmission is being section. These 64 slots radiate
discussed to find its possibility in the power uniformly through free
actual practices, theiradvantages, space to the rectenna. The
disadvantages and economical slotted waveguide antenna is
consideration. Thispaper is ideal for power transmission
mainly concentrated on : i) The because of its high aperture
most popular conceptknown as efficiency Key words – Wireless
Tesla Theory, ii) The microwave transmission, Tesla theory,
power transmission(MPT) called Microwave power transmission,
Solar power satellite, and iii) The Fiber lasers, Collaborative
highly efficientfibre lasers for research.
wireless power transmission.
Many concepts, research papers,
patents are available on
wireless transmission of
electricity but the commercial
technologies are yet to be
materialized. The paper also
discussesthe possible ways to get
useful and practical results out of
all research carried out so far
elsewhere.Microwave oven
magnetron with electronics to
control the output power. The
output microwave power ranges
from 50 W to 200 W at 2.45
GHz. A coaxial cable connects
the output of the microwave
source to a coax-to-waveguide
adapter. This adapter is
connected to a waveguide ferrite
circulator which protects the
microwave source from reflected
power. The circulator is
connected to a tuning waveguide
section to match the
 the principles upon which
transmission and reception, even
in the present day systems, are
based, Dr. Nikola Tesla shows us
that he is indeed the "Father of
the Wireless." The most
wellknown and famous
Wardenclyffe Tower (Tesla
I. INTRODUCTION Tower) was
In our present electricity designed and constructed mainly
generation system we waste for wireless transmission of
more than half of its resources. electrical power, rather than
Especially the transmission telegraphy [1]. The most popular
and distribution losses are the concept known is Tesla Theory
main concern of the present in which it was firmly believed
power technology. Much of this that Wardenclyffe (Fig.1) would
power is wasted during permit wireless transmission and
transmission from power plant reception across large distances
generators to the consumer. with negligible losses [2]. In
The resistance of the wire used in spite of this he had made
the electrical grid distribution numerous experiments of high
system causes a loss of 26-30% quality to validate his claim of
of the energy generated. This loss possibility of wireless
implies that our present system transmission of electricity
of electrical distribution is only (Fig.2). But this was an
70-74% efficient. We have to unfortunate incidence that people
think of alternate state - of - art of that century was not in a
technology to transmit and position to recognise his splendid
distribute the electricity. Now- a- work otherwise today we may
days global scenario has been transmit electricity wirelessly
changed a lot and there are and will convert our mother earth
tremendous development in a wonderful adobe full of
every field. If we don’t keep pace electricity. Fig.1. The 187-foot
with the development of new Wardenclyffe Tower (Tesla
power technology we have to Tower) in 1903. This was to be
face a decreasing trend in the the first broadcasting system in
development of power sector. the world. Tesla wanted to
The transmission of power transmit electricity from this
without wires may be one noble Tower to the whole globe
alternative for electricity without wires using the
transmission. Ionosphere. The source of the
II. THE TECHNOLOGIES transmitted electricity was to be
the Niagara Falls power plant[1].
AVAILABLE
In this remarkable discovery of
the "True Wireless" and
 Fig 1 Fig 2
The modern ideas are dominated William C. Brown, the leading
by microwave power authority on wireless power
transmission (MPT, Figure 3) transmission technology, has
called Solar power satellite to loaned this demonstration
be built in high earth orbit to unit to the Texas Space Grant
collect sunlight and convert that Consortium to show how power
energy into microwaves, then can be transferred through free
beamed to a very large antenna space by microwaves. A block
on earth, the microwaves would diagram of the demonstration
be converted into conventional components is shown below.
electrical power. The primary components include
Fig.2. The basis for Tesla’s a microwave source, a
system for the wireless transmitting antenna, and a
transmission of electrical receiving rectenna.
power[3]. The microwave source consists
of a mi%) and high power
handling capability.A rectifying
antenna called a rectenna
receives the transmitted power
and converts the microwave
power to direct
current (DC) power. This
demonstration rectenna consists
of 6 rows of dipoles antennas literature of the late 1800's and
where 8 dipoles belong to each early 1900's. They were:
row. 1. Transmission through or along
Each row is connected to a the Earth,
rectifying circuit which consists 2. Propagation as a result of
of low pass filters and a rectifier. terrestrial resonances,
The rectifier is a Ga As Schottky 3. Coupling to the ionosphere
barrier diode that is impedance using propagation through
matched to the dipoles by a low electrified gases(Fig.4&5).
pass filter. The 6 rectifying
diodes are connected to light
bulbs for indicating that the
power is received. The light
bulbs also dissipated the received
power.
This rectenna has a 25%
collection and conversion
efficiency, but rectennas have
been tested with greater than
90% efficiency at 2.45 GHz[4].
The transmission of power
without wires is not a theory
or a mere possibility, it is now a
reality. The electrical energy
can be economically transmitted
without wires to any terrestrial
distance, many researchers have
established in numerous
observations, experiments and
measurements, qualitative and
quantitative [5-9]. These have
demonstrated that it is practicable
to distribute power from a central
plant in unlimited amounts, with
a loss not exceeding a small
fraction of one per cent, in the
transmission, even to the greatest
distance, twelve thousand miles - Fig.4. Diagram showing the
to the opposite end of the globe. transmitting & receiving circuit
This seemingly impossible feat For the transmission & reception
can now be readily performed by of electric power by wireless [5].
electrical researchers familiar Fig.5. Two optical forms of
with the design and construction wireless antennae formed of
of my "high-potential magnifying search light beam- ionised
transmitter," There were three atmospheric streams [5].
popular theories present in the
It has been proven that electrical transducers placed in the X-Y
energy can be propagated around plane disposed to generate an
the world between the surface of ultrasound beam in the Z
the Earth and the ionosphere at direction .
extreme low frequencies in what Another possibility is to use
is known as the Schumann highly efficient fibre lasers
Cavity. Knowing that a resonant for wireless power transmission
cavity can be excited and that where the possibilities are
power can be delivered to that similar to microwaves concept
cavity similar to the methods but lasers emit energy at
used in microwave ovens for frequencies much higher that
home use, it should be possible microwaves.
to resonate and deliver power For several years NASA,
via the Schumann Cavity to any ENTECH, and UAH have been
point on Earth. This will working on various aspects of
result in practical wireless collection of the laser radiation
transmission of electrical power. and conversion to electrical
The intent of the experiments and power for laser wireless power
the laboratory Tesla had transmission [7].
constructed was to prove that III. MERITS, DEMERITS &
wireless transmission of ECONOMICS OF
electrical power was possible. WIRELESS TECHNOLOGIES
Although Tesla was not able to 3.1. Merits
commercially market a system to An electrical distribution system,
transmit power around the based on this method would
globe, modern scientific theory eliminate the need for an
and mathematical calculations inefficient, costly, and capital
support his contention that the intensive grid of cables, towers,
wireless propagation of electrical and substations. The system
power is possible and a feasible would reduce the cost of
alternative to the extensive and electrical energy used by the
costly grid of electrical consumer and rid the landscape
transmission lines used of wires, cables, and transmission
today for electrical power towers.
distribution. Power transmission There are areas of the world
system using directional where the need for electrical
ultrasound for power power exists, yet there is no
transmission includes a method for delivering power.
transmitting device and a Africa is in need of power to run
receiving device. The pumps to tap into the vast
transmitting device has a set of resources of water under the
ultrasound transducers forming Sahara Desert. Rural areas, such
an ultrasound transducer as those in China, require the
array, wherein the array is a set electrical power necessary to
of spaced individual bring them into the 20th century
and to equal standing with
western nations. The wireless effects. Calculating the
transmission will solve many of circulating reactive power, it was
these problems The electrical found that the frequency is very
energy can be economically small and such a frequency is
transmitted without wires to any very biologically compatible [3,
terrestrial distance, so there will 8].
be no transmission and 3.3.Economic Impact
distribution loss. The concept looks to be costly
More efficient energy initially. The investment
distribution systems and sources cost of Tesla Tower was
are needed by both developed $150,000 (1905). In terms of
and under developed nations. In economic theory, many countries
regards to the new systems, the will benefit from this service.
market for wireless power Only private, dispersed receiving
transmission is enormous. It has stations will be needed. Just like
the potential to become a television and radio, a single
multi-billion dollar per year resonant energy receiver is
market. required, which may eventually
The increasing demand for be built into appliances, so no
electrical energy in industrial power cord will be necessary!
nations is well documented. If we Monthly electric utility bills from
include the demand of third old-fashioned, fossil-fuelled,
world nations, pushed by their lossprone electrified wire-grid
increasing rate of growth, we delivery services will be
could expect an even optional, much like “cable TV”
Faster rise in the demand for of today. In the 21st century,
electrical power in the near “Direct TV” is the rage, which is
future. These systems can only an exact parallel of Tesla’s
meet these requirements with “Direct Electricity.”
90–94 %efficient transmission IV. ADDITIONAL REMARKS
[3, 8]. Many concepts, research papers,
High Transmission Integrity and patents are available on wireless
Low Loss: - To transmit transmission of electricity but
wireless power to any distance most research work were carried
without limit. It makes no out in isolation, so it needs a joint
difference what the distance is. collaborative efforts to get a very
The efficiency of the useful results on this advanced
transmission can be as high as 96 technology on power
or 97 per cent, and there are transmission for the benefit of
practically no losses. mankind globally in future.
3.2. Demerits Whatever the future may bring,
Biological Impact: - One the universal application of these
common criticism of the Tesla great principles is fully assured,
wireless power system is though it may be long in coming.
regarding its possible biological With the opening of the first
power
plant, incredulity will give way numerous observations,
to wonderment, and this to experiments and measurements,
ingratitude, as ever before. qualitative and quantitative.
The world is still not able to Dr.N.Tesla is the pioneer of this
achieve the benefit of the God invention. Wireless transmission
gifted potential of Dr N.Tesla. of electricity have tremendous
People neglected him and his merits like high transmission
good work. He deserved much integrity and Low Loss (90 – 97
better treatment from the % efficient) and can be
tycoons of his age, than to spend transmitted to any where in the
the last 40 years of his life in globe and eliminate the need for
abject poverty. However, he was an inefficient, costly, and capital
too much of a gentleman to intensive grid of cables, towers,
hold a grudge. Instead, regarding and substations. The system
the magnifying transmitter, would reduce the cost of
Tesla wrote in his autobiography, electrical energy used by the
“I am unwilling to accord to consumer and get rid of the
some small-minded and jealous landscape of wires, cables, and
individuals the satisfaction of transmission towers. It has
having thwarted my efforts. negligible demerits like reactive
These men are to me nothing power which was found
more than microbes of a nasty insignificant and biologically
disease. My project was compatible. It has a tremendous
retarded by laws of nature. The economic impact to human
world was not prepared for it. society. Many countries will
It was too far ahead of time. But benefit from this service.
the same laws will prevail in Monthly electric utility bills from
the end and make it a triumphal old-fashioned, fossil-fuelled,
success.” [3, 8-9]. If this has had lossprone electrified wire-grid
not been happened, then today delivery services will be
we will be in a wonder world of optional, much like “cable TV”
plenty of power using the of today.
technology of wireless
transmission of electricity. REFERENCES:
The author is thankful to the
management of Dr.M.G.R.
V. CONCLUSION Educational & Research institute,
The transmission of power Chennai, for giving permission to
without wires is not a theory publish this paper. The author is
or a mere possibility, it is now a gratefully acknowledged the
reality. The electrical energy support and constant
can be economically transmitted encouragement of HOD, Dean ,
without wires to any terrestrial ED , & MD, Dr.M.G.R.
distance. Many researchers have Educational & Research institute,
established in Chennai, Tamil Nadu
REFERENCES
[1] Nikola Tesla, “The
Transmission of Electrical
Energy Without Wires as a
Means for Furthering Peace,”
Electrical World and
Engineer. Jan. 7, p. 21, 1905.
[2] Nikola Tesla, My Inventions,
Ben Johnston, Ed., Austin, Hart
Brothers, p. 91,1982.
[3] Thomas F. Valone, “ Tesla’s
Wireless Energy... For the 21st
Century!!! One Step Beyond
Direct TV!!!” Extra Ordinary
Technology, 1, no. 4, Oct / Nov /
Dec 2003.
[4] James O. McSpadden, “
Wireless Power Transmission
Demonstration”, Texas A&M
University, June, 1997.
[5] Thomas W. Benson , “
Wireless transmission of power
now possible”, News Letter,
pp1118 – 9, March , 1920.