[论文解读] A Lightweight Space-based Solar Power Generation and Transmission Satellite

Behrooz Abiri, Manan Arya+18 more|arXiv (Cornell University)|Jun 16, 2022

Energy Harvesting in Wireless Networks被引用 20

一句话总结

一种模块化、轻量级的基于轨道空间的太阳能发电卫星设计，使用带抛物线聚光镜的瓷砖单元、CMOS 控制，以及面阵列射频束向地球在 1–10 GHz 的传输，实现端到端效率 7–14% 的无移动部件的 160 g/m2 面密度。

ABSTRACT

We propose a novel design for a lightweight, high-performance space-based solar power array combined with power beaming capability for operation in geosynchronous orbit and transmission of power to Earth. We use a modular configuration of small, repeatable unit cells, called tiles, that each individually perform power collection, conversion, and transmission. Sunlight is collected via lightweight parabolic concentrators and converted to DC electric power with high efficiency III-V photovoltaics. Several CMOS integrated circuits within each tile generates and controls the phase of multiple independently-controlled microwave sources using the DC power. These sources are coupled to multiple radiating antennas which act as elements of a large phased array to beam the RF power to Earth. The power is sent to Earth at a frequency chosen in the range of 1-10 GHz and collected with ground-based rectennas at a local intensity no larger than ambient sunlight. We achieve significantly reduced mass compared to previous designs by taking advantage of solar concentration, current CMOS integrated circuit technology, and ultralight structural elements. Of note, the resulting satellite has no movable parts once it is fully deployed and all beam steering is done electronically. Our design is safe, scalable, and able to be deployed and tested with progressively larger configurations starting with a single unit cell that could fit on a cube satellite. The design reported on here has an areal mass density of 160 g/m2 and an end-to-end efficiency of 7-14%. We believe this is a significant step forward to the realization of space-based solar power, a concept once of science fiction.

研究动机与目标

• 激励并开发用于地球定日轨道向地球发射电力的轻量级、可扩展的基于太空的太阳能供电架构。
• 探索一种模块化、基于瓷砖的设计，将发电、变换和传输整合在可重复使用的单元中。
• 证明 CMOS 技术和超轻结构能够实现完全可展开、无运动部件的卫星，并具电子束定向。
• 评估用当前或近期技术可实现的端到端性能和面密度。

提出的方法

• 使用模块化瓷砖配置，每个瓷砖通过轻量化的抛物面聚光镜收集阳光，并通过 III-V 光伏将其转化为直流。
• 在每个瓷砖实现多块 CMOS 集成电路，以产生并控制多个独立控制的微波源的相位。
• 将微波源耦合到辐射天线阵列，形成一个大规模相控阵，将射频功率定向传输到地球。
• 以 1–10 GHz 频段向地球发射功率，并在地面天线整流器阵收集，强度不超过环境阳光的强度。
• 通过太阳能聚集、CMOS 的进步和超轻结构，实现 160 g/m2 的面密度和 7–14% 的端到端效率。

实验结果

研究问题

• RQ1 是否可以利用瓷砖基模块化方法实现一个完全可展开、无运动部件的太空太阳能供电系统？
• RQ2 利用当前的 CMOS 技术和轻量材料进行射频定向的太空太阳能发电，端到端效率和面密度能达到什么水平？
• RQ3 通过相控阵实现的电子束定向是否足以实现从地球同步轨道到地球的可靠功率传输，同时维持地面安全的强度？
• RQ4 单瓷砖概念向更大配置扩展以实现对地球的实际供电，在扩展性方面有多大？

主要发现

• 所提出的卫星使用将轻量级太阳能聚集、直流转换和射频传输相结合的模块化瓷砖设计。
• 每个瓷砖内设有 CMOS 电路，控制供给大型相控阵的多个微波源的相位。
• 功率在 1–10 GHz 频段定向传输至地球，地面整流天线在环境阳光水平下收集功率。
• 该设计实现了 160 g/m2 的面密度和 7–14% 的端到端效率。
• 该系统在部署后完全可展开且无运动部件，依赖电子束定向。