High-Altitude Balloon - mtu.edu · High-Altitude Balloon with Wireless Power Transmission Erinn van Wynsberghe . 19 Advantages ... • Military: Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance

High-Altitude Balloon with Wireless Power Transmission

Erinn van Wynsberghe, M.Eng, B.Eng McMaster University

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

IEEE WiSEE - SSP 2015 Workshop Technical Program December 14, 2015 Orlando, FL

2

Goal

Develop the interim technologies of space-based solar power into stand-alone marketable products

Objectives: •  Raise Technology Readiness Levels •  Lower launch costs •  Improve public relations


High-Altitude Balloon with Wireless Power Transmission Erinn van Wynsberghe

3

Product Description

colourbox.com

#1:ProductHigh-Al(tudeBalloon

#2:ServicesTelecom Cellphone,TV,

Radio,Internet,Mapping,Defense

#3:AdvantageWirelessPowerTransmission

sites.wff.nasa.gov

25 km



4

Benefits to Space Power

Image: W.C. Brown, NASA-CB-179558 Rectenna Technology Program, PT-6902, Report No. CR179558, N87-19556, Contract NAS3-22764, Mar 11, 1987

1. Technology Readiness Level (TRL) - Income stream to refine WPT technologies 2. Lower Launch Costs - Power beaming for orbital transfer (Bill Brown’s vision) 3. Public Acceptance - WPT in day-to-day life (ex. Public Wi-Fi, wireless charging)



5

Product Design

1. “Superpressure” Ultra-Long Duration Balloon Diurnally balanced 2. Thin-Film Rectifying Antenna “Rectenna” 85%, 1 kW/m2, 4 kW/kg [4] 3. Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) Propulsion Fluid ion collision thrust - Lightweight scaffolding

[4] W. Brown, 1984 IEEE MTT-S International, San Francisco, CA, USA, 1984.

Image: sites.wff.nasa.gov/code820/spb_differences_between_zpandspb.html Image: intechopen.com/books/ict-energy-concepts-towards-zero-power-information-and-communication-technology/electromagnetic-radiation-energy-harvesting-the-rectenna-based-approach

blazelabs.com/pics/supercell.jpg

lae.mit.edu/ehd/

rmcybernetics.com/science/propulsion/ehdt.htm

Ground Station

4. EM Wave Generator (Magnetron, klystron, MASER, etc.)

5. Transmitting Antenna (Phased array, retrodirective)



6

Product Design

[5] W.C. Brown and E.E. Eves, IEEE Trans Micro. Theory and Tec., vol 40, issue 6, pp. 1239-250, 1992.

Example System:

Efficiency [5]: Distance, D: 25 km Receiver Diameter: 19.3 m Transmission Efficiency: 80 % (arbitrary) Transmitter Diameter: 256 m ( 2.45 GHz)

108 m ( 5.80 GHz) 26 m ( 24.12 GHz)



7

Challenges Safety - WPT: Energy density, accuracy / misdirection, atmospheric heating - Balloon: Dropped cargo, control - Combo: Balloon overheating, side lobes, reflection / jamming Power - 280 kW (Very high - regulation) Transmitter Size - 250 m diameter (Very large – cost, viability) EHD Thruster - Thrust / weight ratio = 1.3 N / kg [6] - O.O.M. Too low

[6] K. Masuyama and S. Barrett, Proc. Royal Soc. A, 3 April, 2013. Image: lae.mit.edu/ehd



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Challenges Proposed craft: Altitude: 25 km (82,000 ft) Client Payload: 50 kg Internal Systems: 20 kg

Item Mass (kg)

Known EHD efficiency

Mass (kg) Anticipated EHD

efficiency Balloon Skin 2,765 554 Thrusters 4,970 100 Scaffolding 497 10 Rectenna 84 17 Helium 1,718 154

TOTAL 10,104 905



9

Conclusion •  Proposed technology

–  Geostationary high-altitude balloon –  Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) propulsion –  Wireless power transmission (WPT)

•  Challenges –  Safety –  Power –  Size –  EHD thrust / mass ratio

•  Benefits to Space Power –  Funding to improve TRL –  Reduced launch costs –  Public acceptance of WPT

Superpressure Balloon

Rectenna

EHD Thrusters Lightweight scaffolding

Payload



10

Thank You


Erinn van Wynsberghe [email protected]


Additional Slides



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Altitude Selection Drag Force per Altitude

Prime Factors: Ionosphere (50 km)

Balloon ceiling (45 km)

Air traffic (10-11 km) Weather (2-6 km)

Ground

FD = Drag force p = Air density u = Wind speed

Minimize drag force 25 km



CD = drag coefficient A = Exposed surface area

13

Product Design

1. Superpressure Ultra Long-Duration Balloon - Developed by NASA (shell = 1.5 mil co-extruded LLDPE film) - No altitude variation through day / night cycle - Altitude optimized for lowest drag force (25 km / 15 miles)

sites.wff.nasa.gov/code820/spb_differences_between_zpandspb.html stuff.co.nz/science/67523343/Nasa-launches-super-pressure-balloon-at-Wanaka

http://blog.metservice.com/tag/super-pressure-balloon/



14

Product Design

2. Rectifying Antenna (“Rectenna”) - Convert EM wave to Direct Current - High efficiency - Long history

W.C. Brown. 1982 IEEE MTT-S International Microwave Symposium Digest

intechopen.com/books/ict-energy-concepts-towards-zero-power-information-and-communication-technology/electromagnetic-radiation-energy-harvesting-the-rectenna-based-approach

- Thin film, printed / etched circuit - 2.45 GHz - 85% efficiency - 1 watt / gram



15

Product Design

3. Electrohydrodynamic (EHD) Propulsion - “Ioncraft”, “lifter” - Fluid ions collide with neutrals to create thrust - No mechanical moving parts - Silent, no heat signal

rmcybernetics.com/science/propulsion/ehdt.htm lae.mit.edu/ehd/

http://www.blazelabs.com/pics/supercell.jpg



16

Product Design

4. EM Wave Generator - Magnetron - Klystron - Room-Temperature MASER

hawkeye-greyhound-association.org/2014/04/02/project-cadillac-aew-and-the-us-navy-part-one/

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klystron http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v488/n7411/full/nature11339.html



17

Product Design

5. Transmitting Antenna - Phased Array Antenna - Retrodirective Antenna

mwrf.com/passive-components/retrodirective-array-fits-compact-designs rfcafe.com/references/electrical/ew-radar-handbook/frequency-phase-effects-antennas.htm



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Advantages Alternative to satellites, telecom towers, UAVs (drones)

Financial •  Low cost •  Rent vs. Buy

Technical •  Rapid deployment •  Adjust OR lock position •  Quick & easy repair

Environmental •  Removable (no space debris) •  No pollution •  Low Carbon footprint

Launch Cost Comparison

Agency Launch Cost

2 Tons ($ USD Million)

Russia / Europe [1] 100 – 260.0

United Launch Alliance [1] 380.0

SpaceX Falcon 9 [2] 57.0

NASA Superpressure Balloon [3] 1.6

[1] qz.com/481025/the-new-frontier-for-big-agriculture-is-aquaculture/ [2] airspacemag.com/space/is-spacex-changing-the-rocket-equation-132285884/?no-ist

[3] stuff.co.nz/science/67523343/Nasa-launches-super-pressure-balloon-at-Wanaka



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Advantages Alternative to satellites, telecom towers, UAVs (drones)

Strategic •  Silent •  Invisible to IR detection •  Zero emissions •  No mechanical moving parts •  Operable at any temperature



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Potential Markets Alternative to satellites, telecom towers, UAVs (drones)

Commercial •  Broadcast: TV, Radio, Internet, Mobile Phones •  Mapping & Surveying •  Meteorology

Academia •  Space & Astronomy •  Earth Observation

Government •  Search & Rescue •  Border Patrol •  Military: Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance



21

Path Forward

Starting New Business Strategic Partnerships Pitch Deck / Business Plan Budget Financial Projections

Seeking Government / Equity Financing Research & Development Safety & Regulation Computer Simulations Technology Demonstrations Working Model Prototype Mass Production

Superpressure Balloon

Rectenna

EHD Thrusters Lightweight scaffolding

Payload



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Frequency Letter Bands

microwaves101.com/encyclopedias/frequency-letter-bands



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ISM Bands

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISM_band



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Atmospheric Absorption

rfcafe.com/references/electrical/atm-absorption.htm



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Atmospheric Absorption Frequency (GHz) Loss % (Per km) Loss % (Total)

2.45 0.14 1.15

5.8 0.14 1.15

24.125 2.73 22.70

Air Density

00.20.40.60.81

1.21.4

0 10 20 30

Altitude (km)

Air

Den

sity

(kg/

m^3

)

Series1

Data: engineeringtoolbox.com/standard-atmosphere-d_604.html



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End


Erinn van Wynsberghe [email protected]


Documents

High-Altitude Balloon - mtu.edu · High-Altitude Balloon with Wireless Power Transmission Erinn van Wynsberghe . 19 Advantages ... • Military: Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance