Project Abstract

Abstract
Wireless power transfer (WPT) technology has gained significant attention in recent years due to its potential to revolutionize the way electronic devices are powered. This project focuses on the development and implementation of a wireless power transfer system. The primary objective is to design a system that can efficiently transfer power wirelessly over short distances, eliminating the need for traditional wired connections. The research begins with a comprehensive review of existing WPT technologies, including inductive coupling, magnetic resonance, and radio frequency-based systems. By examining the strengths and limitations of each approach, the project aims to select the most suitable technology for the intended application. Following the technology selection, the project moves on to the design phase. This involves the development of the transmitter and receiver units, as well as the necessary control and communication components. The transmitter unit is responsible for converting electrical power into a wireless signal, while the receiver unit captures this signal and converts it back into usable electrical power. Key considerations during the design phase include efficiency, safety, and cost-effectiveness. The system must be able to transfer power with minimal loss, ensuring that the overall efficiency of the WPT system is high. Safety mechanisms, such as overcurrent and overvoltage protection, are also integrated to prevent any potential hazards during operation. Moreover, the design takes into account the cost implications to ensure that the system is economically viable for widespread adoption. Once the system design is finalized, the project progresses to the implementation phase. This involves prototyping and testing the WPT system in a laboratory environment. Through rigorous testing, the project aims to validate the performance of the system against predefined specifications. Any necessary adjustments are made to optimize the system's efficiency and reliability. Finally, the project evaluates the practical implications of deploying the WPT system in real-world scenarios. This includes assessing factors such as range, power transfer efficiency, and interference with other electronic devices. By conducting field tests and simulations, the project aims to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the wireless power transfer system. In conclusion, this research project presents a comprehensive study on the development and implementation of a wireless power transfer system. By leveraging the latest advancements in WPT technology, the project aims to contribute towards the realization of efficient and sustainable power transfer solutions for various applications.

Project Overview

1 Introduction

Wireless power transfer (WPT) is an important topic nowadays. Although WPT has been known for more than a century, only now has the WPT industry started its rapid growth. The number of publications on wireless power has increased by at least 1200%

in the last 10 years [9,2]. Current solutions are having great success in the marketplace with diffusions of innovations from innovators to early adopters as of now. However the main focus of the current solutions is a “wow” factor which in most cases neglects convenience [7,14]. Obviously, there is a need for a real-life application, for average users

who are not particularly familiar with the engineering world and do not follow state of the art technologies.

The goal of the project was to evaluate and study the wireless power transfer technologies and physics behind it. The design and implementation of the wireless energy transmission system prototype and its implementation in the NextFloor innovative floor

was the main plan. It was crucial for NextFloor to integrate advanced technologies into their floor system in order to make it really “smart” and innovative and wireless power transfer was one of them.

WPT is a very broad though relatively new technology – almost 80% of my references

are dated later than the year 2010; hence, the scope of the project was limited to implementation of the inductive power transfer mode only. However, other types of WPT are also discussed in the thesis. The question my project was aimed to answer was

simple: Are we ready to use cordless electricity in our everyday lives?

Last but not least, my utmost aims that I set in the beginning were to apply the gained knowledge in practice, assess my professional competence and development needs and learn how to work in a professional team researching a totally new technology.