Optical energy transfer and conversion system for planetary rover having drum configured fiber spooler mounted thereon
An optical energy transfer and conversion system comprising a fiber spooler and an electrical power extraction subsystem connected to the spooler with an optical waveguide. Optical energy is generated at and transferred from a base station through fiber wrapped around the spooler, and ultimately to the power extraction system at a remote mobility platform for conversion to another form of energy. The fiber spooler may reside on the remote mobility platform which may be a vehicle, or apparatus that is either self-propelled or is carried by a secondary mobility platform either on land, under the sea, in the air or in space.
1. An optical energy transfer and conversion system comprising:
an optical power source capable of generation of high optical energy in the range of kilowatts to tens of megawatts;
an actively cooled fiber spooler made up of a high thermal conductivity material, said actively cooled fiber spooler further comprises:
a mount;
a drum having a cylindrical drum body and a longitudinal axis, said drum rotatably connected to said mount and having a longitudinal axis;
a plurality of fluid channels extending through said drum body;
a fiber optic rotary joint having an input side and an output side, said fiber optic rotary joint in optical communication with said drum at said input side of said fiber optic rotary joint and with said remote mobility platform at said output side of said fiber optic rotary joint wherein said fiber optic rotary joint is mounted on said drum; and
wherein said length of fiber is at least partially wound around said drum;
a length of fiber for transmission of said high optical energy, said length of fiber circumscribing at least part of said fiber spooler and optically connected to said optical power source;
a remote mobile platform;
at least one high power optical coupler having a first end and a second end, said first end of said at least one high power optical coupler connected to said length of fiber and said second end of at least one high power optical coupler connected to said remote mobile platform; and
a power extraction subsystem on said remote mobile platform, said power extraction subsystem having
an optical energy input for receiving high optical energy, said optical energy input connected to said length of fiber,
a refractory beam dump having a cavity and at least one heat exchanger channel,
a refractory target within said cavity,
beam forming optics orientated to receive said high optical energy from said optical energy input and direct the received said high optical energy to said refractory target;
an array of thermoelectric converters, said thermoelectric converters having an interior side and an exterior side, said interior side connected to said refractory beam dump and said exterior side exposed to a cold environment creating a temperature gradient; and
wherein said high optical energy is converted to another form of energy usable by said remote mobile platform, said remote mobile platform being a planetary rover.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein said optical power source is a laser.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein said actively cooled fiber spooler is mounted on said remote mobile platform.