Light Instead of Electricity

[IsaacAsimov]

I have a brilliant idea: We can use lasers to transport energy instead of electricity. All we need are two fiber optic cables: The first to transport continuous laser light from the origin to the destination, and the second to transport information, such as from TV stations. If we develop optical computers, we wouldn't have to change the light into electricity.

[Bignose]

So, you have a very first step, an idea. Start developing it. Estimate how much light you need to transmit a useful amount of energy. I'd suggest doing this as back of envelope order-of-magnitudes style calculation. e.g. how much energy does a photon have? in what condition? How efficiently can that energy be captured and used? How efficiently can that light be created? What flux density would be needed to transmit enough energy to run your phone? etc.

 

Doing this should help you get an idea of what you need for this idea to happen.

Edited June 19, 2016 by Bignose

[swansont]

And how much power can a fiber-optic cable carry without damage?

[IsaacAsimov]

So, you have a very first step, an idea. Start developing it. Estimate how much light you need to transmit a useful amount of energy. I'd suggest doing this as back of envelope order-of-magnitudes style calculation. e.g. how much energy does a photon have? in what condition? How efficiently can that energy be captured and used? How efficiently can that light be created? What flux density would be needed to transmit enough energy to run your phone? etc.

 

Doing this should help you get an idea of what you need for this idea to happen.

 

Well, we know that E=hf, so the greater the frequency, the greater the energy. If you wanted to stay within the visible spectrum, you would chose ultraviolet light. Beyond that, there is X-rays and gamma rays, but I don't know if the fiber optic cable could withstand such high energies, or if the cable could contain these types of rays. Instead of using solar cells, which have very low efficiency, to change light into electricity, the light could bounce off mirrors arranged at 45 degree angles, and the light could circulate around a square made up of 4 of these mirrors, which would constitute a photonic capacitor. The light could be channeled into a photonic pumped laser which would use 2 different gases to keep the laser operating continuously. The laser beam could be modified for use in monitors and TV sets, which would use part of the laser beam for power.

[Janus]

There are already people working on using fiber optic cable for power transmission with limited success. One company has been able to carry a few hundred watts up to 3000 ft. There's a long way to go before it will be practicable for long distances. Right now they are thinking along the lines of using it in just special cases.

[Velocity_Boy]

I have a brilliant idea: We can use lasers to transport energy instead of electricity. All we need are two fiber optic cables: The first to transport continuous laser light from the origin to the destination, and the second to transport information, such as from TV stations. If we develop optical computers, we wouldn't have to change the light into electricity.

 

But why? What would the advantage be to a laser beam based power generator? In case you aren't aware, lasers are expensive. Plus you would need modems to convert the light to useful amps.

 

Meanwhile electricity is easy and cheap. As fast as light, almost. We just need to learn in America that we screwed the pooch when we ditched nuclear power plants back in the seventies in the wake of the three mile island non-event! Another example if the liberal media harming technology and progress. Fossil fuels are primitive and dirty and obsolete. Except for natural gas. And our a.c. electricity methods are just fine thank you.

 

Lasers are just more complexity to go wrong. Turbines are easy and cheap.

[swansont]

But why? What would the advantage be to a laser beam based power generator? In case you aren't aware, lasers are expensive. Plus you would need modems to convert the light to useful amps.

 

 

 

A modem? You aren't sending information. No need to modulate/demodulate the light.

 

Anyway, the advantage for free-space transmission would be no need to string up any transmission lines. But you wouldn't be able to send much power in any reasonable way.

 

Well, we know that E=hf, so the greater the frequency, the greater the energy. If you wanted to stay within the visible spectrum, you would chose ultraviolet light. Beyond that, there is X-rays and gamma rays, but I don't know if the fiber optic cable could withstand such high energies, or if the cable could contain these types of rays. Instead of using solar cells, which have very low efficiency, to change light into electricity, the light could bounce off mirrors arranged at 45 degree angles, and the light could circulate around a square made up of 4 of these mirrors, which would constitute a photonic capacitor. The light could be channeled into a photonic pumped laser which would use 2 different gases to keep the laser operating continuously. The laser beam could be modified for use in monitors and TV sets, which would use part of the laser beam for power.

 

You have to figure out a way to get more than one electron per photon. Also a way to send light down a fiber with minimal losses; the telecom industry uses near-infrared light because we have really transparent fiber there. You get into the UV and you have serious problems.