Wireless energy transfer or wireless power is the transmission of electrical energy from a power source to
an electrical load without a conductive physical connection. In this paper the technologies available for
Wireless Power Transmission (WPT) and its future possible advancements is being discussed to assume its
feasibility in actual practices.
In our present electricity system much of the power generated is wasted during transmission from power
plants to the consumers passing through cables, substations, etc. With WPT the need for inefficient and
costly, cables, towers, and substations will be eliminated & so will the power losses, finally reducing the
cost of energy. This is one such technology that can make the transmission system highly efficient &
economical. One mere demerit of WPT is that it develops reactive power at a small frequency that is very
biologically compatible and harmful to environment & living beings on over exposure.
2. Wireless Transmission of Electricity (Witricity)
concept originated during turn between 19th
and 20th century. Then scientists who
contributed to this technology are –
Nickola Tesla
William C Brown
Bill Brown
Hidetsugu Yagi
3. First scientist to come up
with the idea of Wireless
Power Transmission(WPT).
Able to light lamps over
25 miles away without
using wires (Wardenclyffe
tower experiment).
Used oscillators to
energize primary coil
attached to the power
source.
5. Principle: Mutual Induction between isolated
coils or conductors.
-Electrodynamics (Electromagnetic coupling)
-Electrostatic (Capacitive Coupling)
Transformer is a basic example.
The main drawback to induction is the short
range.
Magnetic field spreads in all directions
wasting a large amount of energy.
6. Electricity transmitted by converting it into
electromagnetic waves.
Antennas of electronic devices will receive
waves converting them back to electrical
energy.
Mainly, two types of e.m. waves are used-
-Lasers
-Microwaves
A big disadvantage is that e.m. waves can
harm the environment & even living beings
7. Microwave & Laser Transmission
• Microwave • Laser
– Electrical energy converted – Electrical energy
to Microwaves and beamed
to a large antenna converted to beam fired
(Rectenna) that converts it at a receiving target,
to D.C. electricity. (Power Beaming) & is
– More developed converted back to power.
– High efficiency up to 85% – Range of 10% to 20%
– Beams is far below the efficiency within a few
lethal levels of years
concentration even for a
prolonged exposure – Conform to limits on eye
and skin damage.
– Cause interference with
satellite communication – Victim of atmospheric
system. absorption.
8. In 2006 MIT researchers discovered an efficient
method to transfer power.
Transfer power using non-radiative.
Electromagnetic energy Resonant Tunnelling.
Does not disturbs communication system.
Wastage of energy is small.
No need of line of sight between transmitter and
receiver as in lasers.
Most efficient way to transmit Power wirelessly
introduced up till now.
Negative health effects.
9. Electromagnetic energy Resonant Tunnelling
Curved coil of wire makes an inductor.
.
A capacitance plate which can hold a charge attaches
to each end of the coil.
As electricity travels through this coil the coil begins
to resonate.
Electricity traveling along an e.m. wave can tunnel from one coil to
the other as long as the both have the same resonant frequency.
10. For small portable electronic devices electrical
energy can be converted to radio signals and can
be transferred to the device which receives radio
frequency radiation and converts it to DC
electricity that could be stored in a battery for
use.
Electrical energy can propagate around the world.
Power demands differ at different time, high
demands during day and low during night . So,
the extra power available during the night could
be transmitted to the side of the planet where it
is day time.
11. Merits: Demerits
Eliminates use of existing
high-tension power • The Capital Cost for
practical implementation
transmission line cables, of WPT seems to be very
towers and sub stations. high.
Facilitates transmission • Microwaves interferes with
of energy on a global the present
communication systems.
scale.
• Develops reactive power
Low Energy costs. at a small frequency that
The power failure due to is very biologically
short circuit would never compatible and harmful to
environment & living
exist. beings on over exposure.
Power theft would be not
possible at all.
12. Wireless transmission is now a reality & is in
development.
Will make Transmission system more
economical, cheap & reduce pollution.
Merits of this technology overshadow its
demerits.