IL319871B1 - Single Wire Electric Power Transmission - Google Patents

Description

Single-Wire Electric Power Transmission TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention generally relates to electric power transmission systems and methods. More particularly, this invention is directed to the efficient and reliable transmission of electric power through a single conductor (i.e., single-wire electric power transmission), eliminating the need to use a second conductor.

BACKGROUND ART [0002]Electric power transmission systems have traditionally relied on two-wire or multi-wire configurations, in which the flow of energy was distributed along with the electric current. While such configurations have proven reliable for large-scale electricity distribution, they often involve substantial material and infrastructure costs, complex installation requirements, and significant ongoing maintenance. Various attempts have been made to reduce the number of conductors required for power transmission, including systems designed to operate with only a single conductor (sometimes supplemented by an earth or ground return path).

[0003] One known approach to single-wire transmission is the Single-Wire Earth Return (SWER) system, used notably in rural or remote areas where erecting multi-wire infrastructure is economically prohibitive. Although SWER reduces the amount of copper or aluminium conductors needed, it depends heavily on the electrical properties of the earth to complete the circuit. As a result, SWER lines can face issues such as higher resistive losses, potential interference with ground-based systems, and certain safety concerns if the grounding is not properly implemented.

[0004] Efforts to achieve more efficient single-wire power transmission without relying solely on a ground return have been documented as early as Nikola Tesla’s work in the late 19th and early 20th centuries (e.g., U.S. Patent No. 1,119,732). Tesla’s research demonstrated the feasibility of transmitting electrical energy using conductive media and resonant circuitry principles; however, practical implementation of these concepts on a broad commercial scale remained challenging due to hardware limitations and the need for precise tuning and control of high-frequency signals.

[0005]Subsequent patents and publications have explored improvements in single-wire power transmission. For example, certain references discuss specialized waveguide structures or high-voltage single-wire lines designed to minimize energy losses, electromagnetic interference, and safety hazards. Despite these advances, widespread deployment of single-wire systems remains limited by issues such as complexity of power conversion equipment, voltage regulation challenges, and potential grounding or insulation requirements to ensure safe operation, and mainly because there are heat losses in the wires, which can be in the range of 5% to 15% of the energy consumed.

[0006]Accordingly, there is a continued need for a single-wire power transmission method that offers improved efficiency, reliability, and safety and reduces heat loss. The present invention addresses these shortcomings by providing a novel system and method for transmitting electrical power through a single conductor, while overcoming or reducing many of the drawbacks inherent in existing solutions. Its main advantage is the absence of heat loss.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION [0007]The present disclosure relates to a system and method for transmitting sinusoidal electrical power over a single wire. Traditional power transmission systems typically require two or more conductors to establish a closed electrical circuit, leading to increased material costs and infrastructure complexity. This invention introduces an innovative approach that enables efficient power transmission using only a single conductor while maintaining signal integrity and minimizing energy loss.

[0008]The system comprises an input converter , a single transmission wire, and an output converter. The input converter includes a 1:1 transformer with a core composed of laminated high-permeability ferromagnetic material, featuring two identical windings placed on opposite limbs of the transformer core. The windings are connected in series to the power source, generating opposing magnetic fluxes that facilitate power transfer. The transformer core also includes conductor rods, which extend through holes in the laminations and serve as a coupling mechanism for electromagnetic energy. The power is then transmitted via a single transmission wire, which is connected at one end to the conductor rods of the input converter.

[0009]The output converter, designed as a mirror image of the input converter, reconstructs the transmitted sinusoidal electrical signal. This conversion is achieved by using a 1:1 transforme r with similar structural and material characteristics as the input transformer. The electromagnetic energy received through the single transmission wire is converted back into electrical power and delivered to a connected load.

[0010]The system enhances energy transmission efficiency by leveraging magnetic flux coupling principles while minimizing power loss. The symmetric design of the input and output converters ensures optimized power transfer, while the use of a high-permeability core material further improves magnetic coupling efficiency. The transmission wire can be bare wire when in air, but must be insulated if buried in the ground.

[0011]The method associated with this system involves (i) generating electrical energy, (ii) converting it into electromagnetic energy, (iii) transmitting it via a single wire transmission line, and (iv) converting the received energy back into electrical energy to drive a load. This method enables reliable and efficient power distribution with reduced wiring complexity and material costs.

[0012]This novel approach to power transmission can be applied in various industries where reducing infrastructure complexity and improving transmission efficiency are important. The invention presents a practical and scalable solution for modern electrical systems, particularly in environments where conventional multi-wire transmission systems are impractical or cost prohibitive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0013]Fig 1 presents general diagram of the power transmission system. [0014]Fig 2 presents one implementation of 2-TO-1 converter. [0015]Fig 3 shows the in details the shape of one laminate layer of the core. [0016]Fig 4 presents cross-section of output cable connection. [0017]Fig 5 shows the magnetic fields in one laminate layer. [0018]Fig 6 presents an implementation of 1_TO-2 converter derived from fig 2.

[0019]Fig 7 presents full system structure with 2-TO-1 and 1_TO-2 converters. [0020]Fig 8 presents the system with protection unit. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0021] The invention will be described more fully hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which certain possible embodiments of the invention are shown. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather these embodiments are provided so that the disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in art.

[0022]The electric power transmission system receives sinusoidal voltage which is connected to power converter comprised of two units. The input power converter is connected via a single wire to an inverse power converter, which restores the original sinusoidal voltage of the source power signal and feeds it to the load. A general structure of such a system is shown in fig 1. In fig 1 the power source 110 is a one phase AC sine wave power source which is connected to input converter unit 120 which we call 2-TO-1. The energy from the 2-TO-1 converter is transmitted on a single wire 130 . This wire 130 is connected to an inverse converter 140 which we call 1-TO-2, that converts the energy received from the wire 130 to a sinusoidal voltage with the same characteristics as that of the source power and drives load 150 . As will be described later, converter 1-TO-2 , 140 in fig 1 is a mirror image of converter 2-TO-1 120 in fig1.

[0023]A preferred implementation of a 2-TO-1 converter is shown in fig 2. The 2-TO-1 converter 200 receives sinusoidal voltage from a power source 110 and generates electromagnetic wave that travels along the output wire 130 . The 2-TO-1 converter looks like a 1:1 transformer with some modifications. It has a core 210 made of laminated sheets of high permeability ferromagnetic material (soft magnetic) to minimize eddy current losses and support efficient magnetic flux transfer. Said laminated sheets are isolated from each other by a layer of varnish. On the core 210 there are two sets of conductor’s coils 220a and 220b . These two coils are on opposite limbs of the transformer core, and they have the same number of windings. Said coils are fed by the power source 110. They are connected in series so that they generate magnetic flux in the transformer’s core 230a and 230b in opposite directions. The impedance of both windings is designed for optimal power transfer. The shape of the core can be rectangular (as in fig 2) oblong or round. On opposite legs of core 210 , (on the yokes) there are two holes 201a and 201bwhich are perpendicular to the laminated sheets, through which rods made of conductive material 203a and 203b are inserted. One side the two rods 203a and 203b are connected by a conductive wire 202 . The output wire 130 is connected to the other side of one of the rods ( 203a in the figure).

[0024]Detailed description of the shape of a laminate of the transformer core is shown in fig 3. Holes 201a and 201b are the holes thorough which rods 203a and 203bof fig 2 are inserted. Around these holes there are openings 320 which directs the path of the magnetic flux. The direction of the magnetic flux in these areas are presented in fig 5. Arrows 510 and 512 presents the direction of the magnetic flux at one half cycle of the generator voltage. The cylindrical areas which are marked as 340 in fig 3, indicates the area where circular and radial magnetic and electric fields are developed. To be more precise, the cross-section A-A of fig 3 is shown in fig 4. This is the cylinder where the circular and radial magnetic and electric fields are developed.

[0025] Fig 4, 410 is a description of the laminated ferromagnetic sheets of the core which are isolated from each other by an insulation layer 420 . In the middle there is a rod 203awhich is connected on one side by wire 202 to the rod on the opposite leg of the core. The other end of the rod is connected to wire 130 which is the output from the unit.

[0026]The direction of the magnetic flux in one half cycle of the AC input voltage, around the rods 302a and 203b are shown in fig 5. Lines 510 and 512 shows the direction of the magnetic flux around holes 201b and 201a through which rods 203a and 203b are inserted. These magnetic fluxes create radial magnetic strengths in these cylinders. Based on the solution of Maxwell's equations – see [Khmelnik, S. New Solutions of Maxwell's Equations. Edition 20, с. 560. Mathematics in Computer Comp. - MiC, 2024 Israel, 2024, https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14051385 ]. It is shown that at the same time there are radial and circumferential magnetic and electrical strengths. Since the laminate plates of the transformer 210 are electrically conductive, radial and circumferential currents also arise. When these strengths interact, the flow of electromagnetic energy arises along cylinders 340 , as well as along rods 203 a and 203b . From rod 203a, it is transmitted to wire 130 . In this case, the energy flowing from cylinders 340are summed up, since rods 203a and 203b are connected in series.

[0027] The longitudinal current in disks 410 (along the axis) quickly decays, because it is interrupted by insulating varnish 420 . Therefore, along the cylinder 340 there is practically no longitudinal electric and magnetic tension. The flow of electromagnetic energy is created only by radial and circumferential electric and magnetic tensions (completely analogous to how this happens in an electromagnetic wave in a vacuum).

[0028] Radial and circumferential currents, electric and magnetic tensions interact in such a way that the resulting electromagnetic energy is transferred between these currents without losses - there are no thermal losses on the disks 410 .

[0029]The electromagnetic wave is transmitted to wire 130 , where there is no longitudinal electrical tension and, therefore, there are no longitudinal currents. This phenomenon was observed in Avramenko's experiments (but has not been explained until now). Wire 130 also (like cylinder 340 ) contains radial and circumferential currents, but there are no heat losses. This phenomenon was also observed in Avramenko's experiments (but has not been explained until now). In this case, the thickness of the wire becomes not critical: the wire can be made with a small thickness, as in Avramenko's experiments.

[0030] The diagram of the 1-TO-2 converter is presented in fig 6 This unit is a mirror image of the 2-TO-1 converter shown in fig 2. The input energy is entered via wire 130 (on the top left of fig 6, and the load 150 is driven by ac power, having the same voltage and frequency as that of the generator that drives the 1-TO-2 converter. The shape, size, the materials from which the core is built, and the windings are the same as those of the 2-TO-1 converter.

[0031]A diagram of the complete power transmission system is presented in fig 7. The power transmission system 710 , receives sinusoidal voltage from power source 110 from a generator or any other power source, and delivers the power to a load 150 which is far apart from the power source. The 2-TO-1 converter 200 delivers the power to the 1-TO-2 converter via wire 130 . Note that the generator must be connected to the input converter 200 only after the load is connected to the output converter.

[0032] When the power transmission system is connected to the power source and no load is connected at the output, the power source sees a very small impedance, thus high current flows through the coils of the 2-TO 1 input converter which can damage both the power source and the converter. To protect the system, a current switch 810in fig 8 is place between the power source and the input converter which disconnects the power source in case that high current is drawn from it.

[0033]What has been described above are just a few possible embodiments of the disclosed invention. It is of course not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components and/or methodology, but one of the ordinary skills in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations are possible. Accordingly, the invention is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

ABSTRACT A system and method for transmitting sinusoidal electrical power over a single wire from a power source to a remote load is disclosed. The system comprises an input converter that converts sinusoidal power into a form suitable for single-wire transmission and an output converter that reconstructs the original sinusoidal power for delivery to the load. Both converters are designed as 1:1 transformer , each having two identical windings which are connected in series to the input voltage, generating opposing magnetic fluxes within the transformer core. A conductor is embedded within the transformer core, crossing the core laminates, and is electrically connected to the single transmission wire. The special geometry of the laminates directs the magnetic flux towards the conductor, inducing radial and circumferential electric and magnetic tensions , which facilitate the flow of electromagnetic energy through the single wire. The output converter is a mirror image of the input converter, ensuring efficient energy transfer and recovery of the original sinusoidal power. This system enables long-distance power transmission with reduced losses and improved efficiency compared to conventional multi-wire transmission methods.

Claims (7)

Single-Wire Electric Power Transmission CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1) A system for transmitting sinusoidal electrical power over a single wire, comprising: a) a power source configured to generate sinusoidal electrical signal; b) an input converter which is electrically connected to the power source, wherein the input converter comprises: i) a 1:1 transformer having a core and two identical windings which are on opposite limbs of the transformer core; said windings being connected in series to the power source and configured to generate opposing magnetic fluxes within the core; the core is made of laminated sheets of high permeability ferromagnetic material; said laminated sheets are isolated from each other by a layer of varnish; on the center of the yokes there are two holes which are perpendicular to the laminated sheets; ii) around the holes in the yokes of the transformer there are airgaps which direct the magnetic flux to flow in the direction of the hole; iii) conductor rods are positioned within the core holes and extend through the transformer laminates; the two rods are connected in series; c) a single transmission wire is connected to one end of one of the rods extending from the input converter to an output converter; d) an output converter electrically connected to the single transmission wire and configured to reconstruct the sinusoidal electrical signal; the output converter being a mirror image of the input converter, and comprising: i) a 1:1 transformer having a core and two identical windings which are on opposite limbs of the transformer core; said windings being connected in series to the power source and configured to generate opposing magnetic fluxes within the core; the core is made of laminated sheets of high permeability ferromagnetic material; said laminated sheets are isolated from each other by a layer of varnish; on the center of the yokes there are two holes which are perpendicular to the laminated sheets; ii) around the holes in the yokes of the transformer there are airgaps which direct the magnetic flux to flow in the direction of the hole; iii) conductor rods are positioned within the core holes and extend through the transformer laminates; the two rods are connected in series; e) a load electrically connected to the output converter, wherein the load receives reconstructed sinusoidal electrical power.

2) The system of claim 1, wherein the transformer core can be rectangular, oblong or round.

3) The system of claim 1, wherein the transformer core can be made from ferrite.

4) The system of claim 1, wherein the rods can be made of copper.

5) The system of claim 1, wherein the transmission wire is made of conductive material.

6) The system of claim 1, wherein the transformer core is composed of a high-permeability material to enhance magnetic coupling efficiency.

7) The system of claim 1 where a current switch is placed at the output of the power source.