WIRELESS POWER TRANSMISSION VIA SOLAR POWER SYSTEM
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
Wireless Power Transmission is not new to the world,Nikola Tesla is the one who first Conceived the idea of Wireless Power Transmission and demonstrated “the transmission of electrical energy without wires” that depends upon electrical conductivity as early as 1891 (Houran et al, 2018). He further culminated his efforts in a major breakthrough in 1899 at Colorado Springs by transmitting 100 millionvolts of high-frequency electric power wirelessly over adistance of 26 miles at which he lit up a bank of 200 light bulbs and ran one electric motor. Therefore, Wireless Power Transmission (WPT) is efficient transmission of electric power from one point to another trough vacuum or an atmosphere without the use of wire or any other substance. This can be used for applications where either an instantaneous amount or a continuous delivery of energy is needed, but where conventional wires are un affordable, inconvenient, expensive, hazardous, unwanted or impossible.
The wireless transmission of energy is common in much of the world as seen in radio waves energy, and people use them to send and receive cell phone, TV, radio and Wi-Fi signals every day. The radio waves spread in all directions until they reach antennae that are tuned to the right frequency. A similar method for transferring electrical power would be both inefficient and dangerous.During the World War II, W. C. Brown started the first microwave power transmission (MPT) research and development in 1960s based on the development of the microwave tubes. First of all, he developed a rectifying antenna, for receiving and rectifying microwaves Called rectenna. The efficiency of the first rectifying antenna(rectenna) developed in 1963 was 50 % at output 4WDCand 40% at output 7WDC, respectively (Jawad et al., 2017).
The Solar power system today can be transmitted using microwaves, millimeter waves or lasers. Wireless Power Transmission is a technology that can transport power to locations, which are otherwise not possible or impractical to reach (Houran et al, 2018). The conventional methods for generating electrical power are insufficient for providing the increasing demand of electrical power. Thus, there is an urgent need to supplement the conventional sources. Solar power generation with its associated technologies advanced few steps ahead in last several decades as it has been believed and investigated since last four decades that solar energy in space free from the weather conditions is quite different from that on the earth.
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
One of the major issue in power system is the losses occurs during the transmission and distribution of electrical power. As the demand increases day by day, the power generation increases and the power loss is also increased. The major amount of power loss occurs during transmission and distribution. The percentage of loss of power during transmission and distribution is approximated as26%. The main reason for power loss during transmission and distribution is the resistance of wires used for grid. The efficiency of power transmission can be improved to certain level by using high strength composite over head conductors and underground cables that use high temperature super conductor. But, the transmission is still inefficient. According to the World Resources Institute (WRI), India’s electricity grid has the highest transmission and distribution losses in the world – a whopping27%. Numbers published by various Indian government agencies put that number at 30%, 40% and greater than 40%.
This is attributed to technical losses (grid’s inefficiencies) and theft (Houran et al, 2018). Any problem can be solved by state–of-the-art technology. The above discussed problem can be solved by choose an alternative option for power transmission which could provide much higher efficiency, low transmission cost and avoid power theft. Wireless Power Transmission is one of the promising technologies and may be the righteous alternative for efficient power transmission.
1.3 OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The objective of this study is to assess a wireless power transmission via solar power system.
The specific objective of the study include:
- To implement a wireless power transmission system
- To have more electric energy transfer from one school/department to another using the wireless power transmission system
- To determine the efficiency and reliability of wireless power transmission via solar power system.
- To transfer and distribute electrical power via solar system
1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The significance of this study on wireless power transmission via solar power systems can not be overemphasized as Wireless Power Transmission system would completely eliminates the existing high-tension power transmission line cables, towers and sub stations between the generating station and consumers and facilitates the interconnection of electrical generation plants on a global scale. It has more freedom of choice of both receiver and transmitters. Even mobile transmitters and receivers can be chosen for the WPT system. The cost of transmission and distribution become less and the cost of electrical energy for the consumer also would be reduced. The power could be transmitted to the places where the wired transmission is not possible. Loss of transmission is negligible level in the Wireless Power Transmission; therefore, the efficiency of this method is very much higher than the wired transmission. Power is available at the rectenna as long as the WPT is operating. The power failure due to short circuit and fault on cables would never exist in the transmission and power theft would be not possible at all.
1.5 SCOPE AND LIMITATIONS
The scope of this project is limited to wireless power transmission via solar power systems. This further limited to the transmission power wirelessly between the five schools in the Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa i.e. the School of Business Studies, School of information technology, school of engineering, school of general studies, school of applied science and school of environmental studies.
1.6 Research Methodology
In this project “The Wireless Power Transmission via solar power systems was achieved through the installation of Solar power systems and the transfer of generated electricity to the five (5) schools in the Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa. The Solar panels are installed to convert the sunlight into the direct current(DC) power and stored in batteries. The DC power from the solar panel is sent to the inverter where it is converted into Alternating current (AC) power. This Alternating current is then made to flow in the AC line. The power from these AC lines is then transferred wirelessly for powering the electrical and electronic gadgets in the various schools in the institution.
1.7 Definitions of Terms
WIRELESS: Wireless communication is the transfer of information or energy between two or more points without the use of an electrical conductor, optical fiber or other continuous guided medium for the transfer.
ELECTRIC POWER: Electric power is the rate, per unit time, at which electrical energy is transferred by an electric circuit. The SI unit of power is the watt, one joule per second. Electric power is usually produced by electric generators, but can also be supplied by sources such as electric batteries.
ELECTRIC POWER TRANSMISSION: Electric power transmission is the process by which large amounts of electricity produced at power plants, such as industrial-scale solar facilities, is transported over long distances for eventual use by consumers.
SOLAR ENERGY: Solar energy is radiant light and heat from the Sun that is harnessed using a range of technologies such as solar power to generate electricity, solar thermal energy, and solar architecture.