| Microwave Power Transmission |
Article Index for Microwave |
Website Links For Microwave Power |
Information AboutMicrowave Power Transmission |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT MICROWAVE POWER TRANSMISSION | |
| electromagnetic radiation | |
| energy development | |
| electric power transmission systems | |
| electricity distribution | |
| microwave technology | |
| photonics | |
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Microwave power transmission ('''MPT''') is the theoretical use of Microwave s to transmit power through Outer Space or the Atmosphere without the need for Wire s. Nikola Tesla experimented with wireless power transmission around 1900, though his methods did not use microwaves. Following World War II , which saw the development of high-power microwave emitters known as Cavity Magnetron s, the idea of using microwaves to transmit power was researched. In 1964 , William C. Brown demonstrated a miniature Helicopter equipped with a combination Antenna (electronics) and Rectifier device called a Rectenna . The rectenna converted microwave power into electricity, allowing the helicopter to fly. In principle, the rectenna is capable of very high conversion efficiencies - over 90% in optimal circumstances. Most proposed MPT systems now usually include a Phased Array microwave transmitter. While these have lower efficiency levels they have the advantage of being electrically steered using no moving parts, and are easier to scale to the nessesary levels that a practical MPT system requires. Using microwave power transmission to deliver electricity to communities without having to build cable-based infrastructure is being studied at Grand Bassin on Réunion Island in the Indian Ocean . COMMON SAFETY CONCERNS The common reaction to microwave transmission is one of concern, "Microwaves? Don't they boil water and cook food in microwave ovens?" While high intensity microwaves can be painful and dangerous as in the United States Military's Active Denial System , MPT systems are generally proposed have very low power levels at the rectenna. Though this would be extremely safe as the levels would be about equal to the leakage from a microwave oven, this necessitates a large rectenna area for a significant amount of energy to be transmitted. PROPOSED USES
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