Load-Independent Wireless Power Transfer System for Multiple Loads Over a Long Distance

In this paper, a novel long-distance wireless power transfer (WPT) system using repeater coils is proposed to provide power supplies for the driver circuits in high-voltage applications, such as flexible alternative current transmission systems. Different from most of the existing wireless repeater systems where the load is only connected to the last coil and the repeater coils function solely as power relays, in the proposed system, multiple loads are powered by the repeaters. The repeater coils transfer power not only to the subsequent coils but also to the loads connected to them. Dual coil design is proposed for the repeaters with which load-independent characteristics are obtained with a suitable design of coupling coefficients. As a result, the load power can be easily adjusted without affecting each other. Load current characteristics and system efficiency have been analyzed in detail. The power transfer capability of the proposed system is illustrated for different coil quality factors and coupling coefficients. An experimental setup with 10 loads has been built to validate the effectiveness of the proposed long-distance WPT system. The maximum reachable system efficiency is about 84%.