This thesis describes a theoretical and experimental investigation of wireless energy transfer between high-Q resonant radiofrequency (RF) oscillators. A model used by Kurs \emph{et al} \cite{Kurs_original} was recast in a form which enabled expression of the results in terms of measurable electrical quantities. This model was tested using circular resonant copper loop antennas at a frequency near 10 MHz. Accurate calculation of the mutual inductance between loops was required in order to predict the loop coupling parameters, and was carried out using a custom-written computer code.
Two resonant loop antenna RF oscillators were first used to check that the model predictions were accurate in the two-oscillator case. Based on the success of these tests, the model was extended to the case of three oscillators in two different configurations, the first having two receiving oscillators, and the second having two transmitting oscillators. Model predictions for both configurations were experimentally tested over a range of coil separations and angular inclinations. These experimental tests confirmed the model's applicability in the three-oscillator regime, with significant deviations from the model only being observed when any pair of loops was in very close proximity (i.e. when the separation of loop centers was comparable to the loop diameter). This may have been be due to either nonlinear dielectric losses (due to large amplitude RF electric fields) spoiling the Quality factors Q of the loop antenna resonators, or to increased capacitive coupling between loops at short distances (not included in the current model), or both. Further investigation would be required to definitively establish the origin of the deviation from the model at short distances, but from an engineering point of view accurate modelling of the performance in the "close loop" regime is not critical since the primary purpose of wireless power transfer is to transmit power over a reasonable distance.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:USASK/oai:ecommons.usask.ca:10388/ETD-2013-04-1022 |
| Date | 2013 April 1900 |
| Contributors | Bradley, Michael P. |
| Source Sets | University of Saskatchewan Library |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text, thesis |
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