WipTHerm
Innovative Wireless Power Devices Using micro-Thermoelectric Generators arrays Photonics
Description
WiPTherm focused on the design and deployment of an innovative Wireless Energy Transfer (WET) system, capable of recharging the energy storage components used in CubeSat technologies at large distances in harsh spatial environments. For this, INESC TEC deployed a high-power fibre laser at 1550 nm solution capable of long-distance and wireless energy transfer exploiting micro-thermoelectric generator arrays on the satellite side.
Micro and Nanosatellites (often referred to as CubeSats) are revolutionizing the paradigm of engineering and space exploration in the last years, in several areas such as weather information and climatic research, multimedia communications, telephone and television, data distribution, transportation and logistics, navigation, safety, security, and rescue. The field of CubeSat is being pointed out as one of the emergent technological markets and it is expected to reach $6.35 billion by 2021, with a CAGR growth of 37.91% in the 2017-2021 period. With advances in CubeSat technologies, the energy demand in this market segment has also increased dramatically, requiring larger deployable solar arrays, lower power electronics, efficient energy storage systems and further energy transfer/harvesting systems.
Scientific Advances
The WiPTherm technology consists of a pioneering, clean, easy and cheap solution for energy transfer. The energy harvesting system comprises dozens of microarrays of 2D thermoelectric generators, resulting in a photo-thermoelectric plasmonic (HPTP) system that has the ability to convert photon energy into electrical energy (via thermal gradient). The wireless thermal stimulation will be performed through a large range pulsed high power laser beam capable of operating at large distances.
This project developed a prototype capable of transmitting energy without the need for electrical cables. Energy transmission is based on continuous high-power lasers at a wavelength @1550 nm (telecommunications window). The electrical-optical energy conversion is achieved by means of thermoelectric sensors, making it possible to make energy available in remote areas and harsh conditions such as space exploration.
Impact
The results obtained during the project are the following:
• A final configuration of the all-fiber laser is based on a linear cavity configuration. The configuration includes two pumping lasers at 976 nm with a maximum power of 140 W.
• The telescope is specifically designed to focus light into both circular and linear sensors.
• The final prototype was placed in a customized rack in order to be transportable in the laboratory or in the final demonstration in the Military Base of São Jacinto (Aveiro, Portugal).
• The first demonstration was conducted in the basements of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto (FCUP), at a distance of 70 m. During this experiment, power levels of up to 6W were used, which were measured by the installed sensors.
• The second demonstration took place at Military Base of São Jacinto, at a distance of 204 ± 2 m. The experiment was conducted during the day, between June 28 and 29, 2023. The distance was obtained through reflection on a silver mirror located 101 m away from the laser. The power used was 20 W, obtained with a pumping power of 140 W.
Micro and Nanosatellites (often referred to as CubeSats) are revolutionizing the paradigm of engineering and space exploration in the last years, in several areas such as weather information and climatic research, multimedia communications, telephone and television, data distribution, transportation and logistics, navigation, safety, security, and rescue. The field of CubeSat is being pointed out as one of the emergent technological markets and it is expected to reach $6.35 billion by 2021, with a CAGR growth of 37.91% in the 2017-2021 period. With advances in CubeSat technologies, the energy demand in this market segment has also increased dramatically, requiring larger deployable solar arrays, lower power electronics, efficient energy storage systems and further energy transfer/harvesting systems.
Scientific Advances
The WiPTherm technology consists of a pioneering, clean, easy and cheap solution for energy transfer. The energy harvesting system comprises dozens of microarrays of 2D thermoelectric generators, resulting in a photo-thermoelectric plasmonic (HPTP) system that has the ability to convert photon energy into electrical energy (via thermal gradient). The wireless thermal stimulation will be performed through a large range pulsed high power laser beam capable of operating at large distances.
This project developed a prototype capable of transmitting energy without the need for electrical cables. Energy transmission is based on continuous high-power lasers at a wavelength @1550 nm (telecommunications window). The electrical-optical energy conversion is achieved by means of thermoelectric sensors, making it possible to make energy available in remote areas and harsh conditions such as space exploration.
Impact
The results obtained during the project are the following:
• A final configuration of the all-fiber laser is based on a linear cavity configuration. The configuration includes two pumping lasers at 976 nm with a maximum power of 140 W.
• The telescope is specifically designed to focus light into both circular and linear sensors.
• The final prototype was placed in a customized rack in order to be transportable in the laboratory or in the final demonstration in the Military Base of São Jacinto (Aveiro, Portugal).
• The first demonstration was conducted in the basements of the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Porto (FCUP), at a distance of 70 m. During this experiment, power levels of up to 6W were used, which were measured by the installed sensors.
• The second demonstration took place at Military Base of São Jacinto, at a distance of 204 ± 2 m. The experiment was conducted during the day, between June 28 and 29, 2023. The distance was obtained through reflection on a silver mirror located 101 m away from the laser. The power used was 20 W, obtained with a pumping power of 140 W.
