Novel Space-based Solar Power Technologies and Architectures for Earth and Beyond

Mark J. O 'Neill ENTECH, Inc. 1077 Chiso lm Trail Keller, TX 76248 E"mail : mjonei ll@entechsolar.com Te l: 817-379-0100 Fax: 817-379-0300 Richard L. Fork University of Alabama Huntsvi lle 456 Optics Building Huntsville, AL 35899 E-mail: fork@ece .uah .edu Tel: 256-824-2523 Fax: 256-890-66 18 Research , deve lopment and studies of novel space-based so lar power systems, techno logies and architectu res for Earth and beyond are needed to reduce the cost of clean electrical power for terrestria l use and to provide a stepping stone for providing an abundance of power in space, i.e., for manufacturing facilities, tourist fac ili ties, de livery of power between objects in space, and between space and surface s ites. The architectures, technologies and systems needed for space to Earth applications may a lso be used for in-space applications. Advances in key techno logies, i.e. , power generation, power management and distr ibution, power beaming and convers ion of beamed power are needed to ach ieve the objectives of both terrestria l and extraterrestrial applications. Power beam ing or wireless power transmiss ion (WPT) can in vo lve lasers or microwaves along with the assoc iated power interfaces. Microwave and laser transmiss ion techniques have been studied with several promising approaches to safe and effic ient WPT identified . These investigations have included microwave phased array transmitters, as we ll as laser transmission and associated optics. There is a need to produce "proof-of-concept" va lidation of critica l WPT technologies for both the near-term, as we ll as far-term applications. Investments may be harvested in near-term beam safe demonstrations of commercial WPT applications. Receiving sites (users) inc lude ground-based stations for terrestria l electrica l power, orbi ta l s ites to provide power for satelli tes and other platforms , future space elevator systems, space vehicle propu ls ion, and space to surface sites. This paper briefly di scusses achieving a promis ing approach to the so lar power generation and beamed power conversion. The approach is based on a unique high-power solar concentrator array called Stretched Lens Array (SLA) for both so lar power generation and beam ed power convers ion. S ince both vers ions (so lar and laser) of SLA use many identical components (only the photovo ltaic cell s need to be different), economies of man ufacturing and scale may be realized by using SLA on both ends of the laser power beaming system in a space so lar power application. Near-term uses of this SLAIaser-SLA system may inc lude terrestrial and space exploration in near Earth space. Lunar surface power in the permanently dark polar craters is one important potential SLA-Iaser-SLA application. Later uses may include beamed power for bases or vehicles on Mars. 1 https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20050245136 2019-03-31T10:02:29+00:00Z