| Microwave Power Transmission |
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| 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 use of Microwave s to transmit power through Outer Space or the Atmosphere without the need for Wire s. It is a sub-type of the more general Wireless Energy Transfer methods, and is the most interesting because microwave devices offer the highest efficiency of conversion between DC-electicity and microwave radiative power. 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 and Rectifier device called a Rectenna . The rectenna converted microwave power into electricity, allowing the helicopter to fly EXPERIMENTAL AIRBORNE MICROWAVE SUPPORTED PLATFORM Descriptive Note : Final rept. Jun 64-Apr 65. 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 necessary 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 Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean . COMMON SAFETY CONCERNS The common reaction to microwave transmission is one of concern, as microwaves are generally perceived by the public as dangerous forms of radiation - stemming from the fact that they are used in Microwave Ovens . While high power microwaves can be painful and dangerous as in the United States Military's Active Denial System , MPT systems are generally proposed to have only low intensity at the Rectenna . Though this would be extremely safe as the power levels would be about equal to the leakage from a microwave oven, and only slightly more than a cell phone, the relatively diffuse microwave beam necessitates a large rectenna area for a significant amount of energy to be transmitted. Research has involved exposing multiple generations of animals to microwave radiation of this or higher intensity, and no health issues have been found. Environmental Effects - the SPS Microwave Beam PROPOSED USES Main article: Solar Power Satellite
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