"The efficiency of your satellites depends a lot on the accuracy of your control systems."

Before the launch of the experimental power generation satellite, Zhang Xingyang asked Qin Ming:

"How's that, do you have faith?"

The power generation satellite used the latest flexible solar panels to generate electricity.

At the same time as generating electricity, the electric energy is transmitted through the high-power wireless transmission output.

Convert to directed microwaves

Output to the Tiangong-1 space station.

The microwave is then converted into electrical energy through the receiving device.

Wireless power transmission, to be precise, should be wireless transmission of microwaves.

Electrical energy does not travel wirelessly.

Rather, it transforms one form into another wave of way.

Complete the transfer.

Microwave transmission also has some drawbacks.

"Of course, we are confident that our intelligent control system can ensure that all the light surfaces of the power panels are protected.

24 hours a day, receiving light. ”

Qin Ming raised his eyebrows and said.

The space environment, as opposed to the terrestrial environment.

The biggest advantage is.

Power generation time.

In space, the power generation time can reach 24 hours under precise control.

This is something that cannot be done by terrestrial power generation, or even high-altitude power generation.

Nearly twice as long as power generation.

The result is twice the amount of electricity generated.

"Now space power generation, the problem is relatively big."

After Qin Ming spoke confidently, he talked about the current shortcomings.

"Actually, it's still a problem of directional transmission of microwaves."

Microwaves are in space, and there will be a phenomenon of escape.

It is not possible to propagate completely directionally, like lasers.

For this reason, Zhang Xingyang has put a lot of effort into this aspect.

"Our current level of technology is already the limit of what we can do."

Zhang Xingyang smiled and said.

In fact, the current escape problem of wireless transmission microwaves.

It is already more than Zhang Xingyang predicted at the beginning.

It's a lot better.

The most intuitive manifestation is:

In a vacuum environment, the loss rate of wireless transmission is less than 12 percent.

This is already a fairly low attrition rate.

Even if you take into account the fact that the transmission of electricity from space to the ground will increase losses due to atmospheric problems.

But the attrition rate will not exceed 20 percent.

You should know that the general high-voltage transmission line loss is about 13%.

The 800 kV UHV transmission loss rate is much lower, about 7 percent.

But considering the actual power generation of space power plants, it is more than twice that of ground-based solar power plants.

And considering the stability of power generation.

In fact, space power plants are much more efficient.

The actual loss is about 7 percent.

"We want to further improve the efficiency of wireless power transmission, unless our semiconductors are further developed."

Zhang Xingyang said next.

"Our current gallium arsenide semiconductors can only do this to this extent."

The development of the third-generation semiconductor industry in China is much faster than that of other countries in the world.

This is due to the huge domestic raw material production capacity.

It can afford to squander research in all kinds of different directions.

At present, the domestic market for third-generation semiconductor raw materials accounts for more than 90%.

"According to the scheduled plan, our power generation satellite will be launched in three days."

Qin Ming did not continue to discuss the development of semiconductors with Zhang Xingyang.

Instead, he turned to the specific problem of power generation satellites.

"In four days, the first space wireless power transmission experiment will be conducted."

After Qin Ming finished speaking, he looked at Zhang Xingyang with some expectation:

"When the time comes, will you come?"

Zhang Xingyang has been busy dealing with various international forces recently.

There is very little time to really manage a space mission.

That's why Qin Ming asked such a question.

"I'm going to be there, and the power generation satellite is related to the future of our energy industry."

Zhang Xingyang smiled and said:

"How could I miss this good time?"

For the space power station project, Zhang Xingyang has made countless preparations.

Before that, high-altitude solar drones and three generations of semiconductors were all for it.

Even in order to be able to smoothly implement a super-large space power station.

Some tough tactics were also used.

Now that the time has come to see the results, how can he miss it.

——

It was a relatively quiet autumn night.

A huge heavy launch vehicle, quietly erected on a launch tower.

This is not just the first ascension of a power satellite.

The same was the first launch mission of a heavy launch vehicle.

Electric satellites are extremely heavy, and only heavy launch vehicles can carry this big thing into the sky.

The body of the power satellite weighs as much as 45 tons.

Add to that the huge number of foldable flexible solar panels.

The weight will be more than a hundred tons!

It can be called the largest single satellite ever built.

"Launch!"

A majestic and powerful voice sounded in the launch command center.

Stout rockets with a deafening roar.

Even from a distance of tens of kilometers, the roar of the rocket engine can still be heard.

In the vicinity of the launch site, even a slight earthquake was generated.

A large number of small stones, bobbing back and forth on the ground.

Like grit bouncing on the drum surface.

Nearly a hundred meters of red flames, spewing from behind the rocket.

Accompanied by white smoke up to more than a hundred meters high.

Like a dragon out of the abyss.

It's about to reach the sky!

In just 168 seconds, the most massive first-stage rocket, thousands of tons of fuel, was burned out.

The second stage of the rocket was pushed to a critical altitude in the atmosphere and space.

After the non-stop push of the second-stage rocket and the third-stage rocket.

Less than forty minutes later.

The power generation satellite has finally reached the scheduled operational altitude.

"The solar panels of the power generation satellite are being unfolded and are expected to take fifteen minutes."

In the control hall, the staff is diligently broadcasting the operation status of the satellite.

"The solar panels of the power generation satellite are so big that the deployment time is not a little bit longer than that of other satellites."

Qin Ming looked at the solar panels on the big screen that were unfolding from the shrinking state little by little.

On the power generation satellite, two fixed cameras are installed.

Ability to see the situation on both sides of the satellite.

Even if necessary, the two cameras are able to adjust their own shooting angles.

Let the ground command center see the image from other angles.

"Isn't it just that solar panels are used to generate satellites?"

Zhang Xingyang looked at the big screen and said disappreciatively.

A power generation satellite with four large solar panels.

The area of a single solar panel can break the previous world record.

The area of a single solar panel is the size of two standard football fields.

Four solar panels are the size of eight standard football fields.

In terms of area alone.

That's eight times the size of the International Space Station, the largest space manufacture ever built.

"The state-of-the-art solar panels we use are only 35 percent efficient."

Qin Ming said with some regret.

"That's already good, and the daily power generation per square meter can reach 1.8 kilowatt-hours of electricity."

Zhang Xingyang was not dissatisfied.

Now this efficiency is enough for them.

In fact, it is greatly exceeded.

The area of the four solar panels is nearly 56,000 square meters.

In other words, the power generation satellite can send out more than 100,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per day!

This compares to those ground-based thermal power stations that generate more than one million kilowatt-hours of electricity per day.

This number may not be very large.

But compared to other objects in the space environment.

That's an astronomical amount.

The ISS generates electricity with a power of ninety kilowatts.

In other words, the ISS generates just over 2,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity a day.

It is less than half an hour's power generation from the power generation satellite.

"In the future, there will be more solar panels, and 10 million kilowatt-hours of electricity a day will not be an unattainable dream."

Zhang Xingyang looked at the power generation satellite, which is still relatively simple, and said.

In fact, the interface reserved for power generation satellites.

It's not just about four solar panels.

As planned.

The satellite will be able to mount at least 24 solar panels.

Although it is still some distance from the 10 million kWh of electricity a day that Zhang Xingyang said.

But it is also capable of generating 600,000 kWh of electricity per day.

For now, it's a relatively large number.

After all, space power generation is not like ground-based solar power plants, wind power plants, and hydropower plants.

It will be affected by weather, tides, geology, etc.

Extremely stable power generation is possible.

The degree of stability is stronger than that of nuclear power.

Unless the solar panels, there is a failure.

Otherwise, it can generate electricity 24 times a day.

"I'm not too worried about the prospect of space power generation."

Qin Ming said after withdrawing his gaze from the big screen.

"I'm more worried about other things."

Zhang Xingyang naturally had Qin Ming's concerns.

The space power station has to fully receive sunlight.

Its solar panels are very large.

If it weren't for the material they used, it wouldn't be strongly reflective.

At the right time, one can even see a huge star streaked across the night sky.

Recently, the theory of radiation hazards has become very popular in society.

Qin Ming was worried that someone would make a fuss about the satellite's microwave.

These people can't even tolerate the radiation from the signal base station.

Not to mention, even more destructive microwaves.

Although they may not understand how microwaves work.

But that doesn't stop them from making a big splash.

Oppose the development of microwave transmission technology in China.

Zhang Xingyang has heard more rumors in recent times.

Even within the BS district government, which they had worked with on the development of wireless transmission, there were people who told him about it.

However, this does not hinder Zhang Xingyang's will to continue to advance in this regard.

"You don't have to worry about them, they won't be an obstacle to you."

Zhang Xingyang withdrew his gaze from Qin Ming and said.

"The solar panels of the power generation satellite have all been deployed."

"Preparations are underway for power generation tests."

After a burst of sounds, the control hall was once again busy.

Everyone began to inject power generation start-up data into satellites thousands of miles away.

On a large screen, a curve of power generation efficiency is marked.

Start climbing little by little.

From the beginning to 160 kilowatts, little by little.

Then it began to grow violently, instantly growing to 1,500 kilowatts.

This is the first solar panel that has been fully activated.

The remaining three solar panels start faster than the first one.

It's going to be a lot faster.

The power generation efficiency curve on the big screen climbs instantaneously like a straight line.

Less than a minute.

Generating satellites has achieved maximum efficiency.

6200 kilowatts!

This is much better than Zhang Xingyang's previous predictions.

The previous forecast for power was only 4,200 kilowatts.

This means 2,000 kWh more electricity in an hour!

It's 48,000 degrees a day!

"It seems that solar panels are much more efficient in space than on the ground."

Qin Mingmo rubbed his chin and said.

"It's natural, sunlight in space is more intense than the attenuation of the atmosphere."

Zhang Xingyang nodded on the side and said.

"Report to the ground command center that we are ready to receive power."

"You can start experimenting."

"Please instruct."

On the other side, the voice of Jing Haipeng, who was working in the space station, was heard.

They need to operate the wireless transmission receiver equipment inside the space station.

Carry out the reception of electrical energy.

"Approval for wireless power transmission experiments."

Accompanied by Zhang Xingyang's order.

For future generations, an experiment with great influence began.

Microwaves that convert electrical energy into invisible space.

Spanning thousands of kilometers, it was transmitted to the Tiangong space station.

Inside the space station, Jing Haipeng, who guards the extremely important wireless transmission receiver.

There is nothing special about it.

There was even a moment when he thought something was wrong.

And it didn't start.

But in the next second, he dispelled this idea.

Because he saw that the indicator light on the receiving end had turned green.

This means that the receiving end is working.

And the battery pack on the side also shows that it is being charged.

Jing Haipeng was a little surprised.

He also thought that the moment the microwave came, he would feel something special.

For example, the mind is dizzy, or the whole body trembles, etc.

And that's the result?

However, the professional ethics of the astronaut still allowed him to start working at the moment when he found the receiving end.

Reported to the ground:

"Report to the ground command center, the receiving end is operating normally."

"The current power is 840 kilowatts."

In the ground control center, after everyone heard this data.

They were all shocked.

In the first trial, they didn't use a lot of power.

It's just 1,000 kilowatts of power.

This is also considering that the Tiangong-1 space station does not currently have the ability to receive ultra-high power.

A thousand kilowatts is basically its limit.

However, the figure of 840 kilowatts still surprised everyone.

Because this is just the beginning of power transmission, the loss is only 16 percent.

After a while, after the microwave transmission stabilizes, it should be lower.

Twenty minutes later, the ground command center got more detailed data on the power of the space station.

In the last twenty minutes, the minimum power was 840 kilowatts.

The maximum power is 910 kW.

The average operating power is 892 kilowatts.

It's even better than what they've gotten in a lab environment before!

The next step is to start experimenting with the transmission of electricity from space to the ground.

Once successful, it will greatly change the world's energy landscape! (End of chapter)