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Wireless Energy Management and Wireless Power Transmission Systems

 
 
The concept of wireless power transmission (WPT) and Wireless Energy Management through microwave beams dates back to the sixties, when it was proposed and investigated for its potential applications to the design of Solar Power Satellites (SPS). However, in the recent years the capability of WPT systems to wirelessly transfer energy has gathered an increasing attention for its potential application to several other scenarios in which "Power-on-Demand" concept is required, including powering electrical vehicles and pervasively charging sensor, phones, and laptops. In this scenario, innovative design approaches are required for the development of efficient WPT systems, because of their specific constraints which are fundamentally different from those of classical wireless applications (usually aimed at the transmission of information). This is specifically true for the design of WPT transmitting arrays, whose aim is the maximization of the beam efficiency (i.e., ratio of power transmitted towards the WPT receiver over total radiated power) rather than the maximization of the array gain or the minimization of the mainlobe width (as it happens in traditional radar and communication systems). Accordingly, innovative design approaches are of paramount importance when dealing with the design of WPT transmitting arrays.
   
Wireless power transmission and wireless energy management systems for ground-to-ground and ground-to-air applications

Schematic diagram of the main blocks of a long-range WPT system

Prototype of rectenna array comprising four receiving elements (c) ELEDIA Reseach Center 2012

Functional diagram of wireless-fed sensor for industrial applications
 
Members of the ELEDIA Research Center are working on the development of several innovative approaches for the design of wireless power transmission systems, including
  • Transmitting fully-populated arrays for maximum power efficiency through analytical strategies.
  • Sparse arrays with maximum beam efficiency.
  • Clustered arrays for WPT systems.
  • Rectennas and wireless power collection systems.
The research activities carried out in this area are specifically focused on the study, development, prototyping, and testing of innovative Wireless Power applications with the purpose of bridging the gap between the already available theoretical results and designs and the realization of reliable technologies based on such concepts.
   

Wireless power transmitting array with focusing reflector (c) ELEDIA Research Center 2012

Keywords: Wireless power transmission, antenna array, beam collection efficiency, phased array, optimization techniques


Recent Projects

  • Project "Radio frequency power scavenging for telemetry sensor management (ROTATe)", Ansaldo Energia, Coordinator Prof. Andrea Massa, 2011-2012.

See Also

  • A. Massa, G. Oliveri, F. Viani, and P. Rocca, "Array designs for long-distance wireless power transmission - State-of-the-art and innovative solutions," Proceedings of the IEEE - Special Issue on "Wireless Power Technology, Transmission and Applications," vol. 101, no. 6, pp. 1464-1481, June 2013.
    doi:10.1109/JPROC.2013.2245491
  • G. Oliveri, L. Poli, and A. Massa, "Maximum efficiency beam synthesis of radiating planar arrays for wireless power transmission," IEEE Trans. Antennas Propag., pp. 2490-2499, vol. 61, no. 5, May 2013.
    doi:10.1109/TAP.2013.2241714
  • G. Franceschetti, P. Rocca, F. Robol, and A. Massa, "Design and optimization of efficient rectenna systems for space solar power applications," International Conference on Electromagnetics and Advanced Applications (ICEAA 2012) - Invited paper, Session title: "Wireless power transmission," Cape Town, South Africa, Sep. 2-7, 2012.
  • G. Franceschetti, P. Rocca, F. Robol, and A. Massa, "Innovative rectenna design for space solar power systems," IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Workshop Series on "Innovative Wireless Power Transmission: Technologies, Systems, and Applications" (IMWS-IWPT2012), Kyoto, Japan, pp. 151-153, May 10-11, 2012.
    doi:10.1109/IMWS.2012.6215773
  • G. Oliveri, P. Rocca, F. Viani, F. Robol, and Andrea Massa, "Latest advances and innovative solutions in antenna array synthesis for microwave wireless power transmission," IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Workshop Series on "Innovative Wireless Power Transmission: Technologies, Systems, and Applications" (IMWS-IWPT2012), Kyoto, Japan, pp. 71-73, May 10-11, 2012.
    doi:10.1109/IMWS.2012.6215822
  • G. Oliveri, P. Rocca, and A. Massa, "Array antenna architectures for solar power satellites and wireless power transmission," XXX URSI General Assembly and Scientific Symposium of International Union of Radio Science (URSI GASS 2011) - Invited paper, Session title: "Solar power satellites and wireless power transmission," Istanbul, Turkey, Aug. 13-20, 2011.
    doi:10.1109/URSIGASS.2011.6050552
  • G. Franceschetti, A. Massa, and P. Rocca, "Innovative antenna systems for efficient microwave power collection," IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Workshop Series on "Innovative Wireless Power Transmission: Technologies, Systems, and Applications" (IMWS-IWPT2011), Uji (Kyoto), Japan, pp. 275-278, May 12-13, 2011 (Invited paper).
    doi:10.1109/IMWS.2011.5877080
  • P. Rocca, G. Oliveri, and A. Massa, "Innovative array designs for wireless power transmission," IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Workshop Series on "Innovative Wireless Power Transmission: Technologies, Systems, and Applications" (IMWS-IWPT2011), Uji (Kyoto), Japan, pp. 279-282, May 12-13, 2011 (Invited paper).
    doi:10.1109/IMWS.2011.5877110