International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT) – Volume 11 Number 6 - May 2014

WiTricity:Wireless Power Transfer By Non-radiative

Method
Ajey Kumar. R1, Gayathri. H. R2, Bette Gowda. R3, Yashwanth. B4
1
Dept. of ECE, Malnad College of Engineering, Hassan, India
2
Centre for Emerging Technologies, Jain University, Bangalore, India
3
Dept. of EEE, Basaveshwara College of Engineering, Bagalkot, India
4
Dept. of ECE, BVB College of Engineering & Technology, Hubli, India

Abstract— A non-radiative energy transfer, commonly referred Thanks to the advent in power electronics, inductive charging,
as WiTricity and based on ‘strong coupling’ between two coils also known as wireless charging, has found much successes
which are separated physically by medium-range distances, is and is now receiving increasing attention by virtue of its
proposed to realize efficient wireless energy transfer. WiTricity simplicity and efficiency. The most important distinctive
idea is spear-headed by MIT researcher Marin Soljacic, which
structural difference between contactless transformers and
describes the ability to provide electricity to remote objects
without wires. The advent of WiTricity technology is though old conventional transformers is that the two ‘coils’ in the former
of 1899, explored by Nikola Tesla, but has founded its grip in are separated by a large air gap. Compared with plug and
recent years with numerous gadgets and there snaking cables socket (i.e., conductive) charging, the primary advantage of
around us. The technology is in turn expels E-waste and will free the inductive charging approach is that the system can work
us from the power cords. WiTricity depends upon strong coupled with no exposed conductors, no interlocks and no connectors,
resonance between transmitter and receiver coils. The allowing the system to work with far lower risk of electric
transmitter emits a non-radiative magnetic field resonating at shock hazards.
MHz frequencies and the receiving unit load resonates in that
field. Thin film WiTricitycells, consisting of a tape coil on one
layer, which is separated by an insulation layer to conductive
strips on another layer, are fabricated. These cells are light,
compact, and flexible provide convenience and flexibility in the
design of wireless devices. Experiments are conducted to
showcase the performance of this energy transfer system.

Keywords— WiTricity, Inductive magnetic coupling, Resonant

wireless energy transfer, strong coupling.
Fig. 1. Basic componants of the WiTricity system
I. INTRODUCTION
In the 1890’s wireless energy transmission was
demonstrated by Nikola Tesla using his demonstration on
Physical separation between the primary and
resonant transformers called Tesla coils. Since these coils had
secondary windings incurs proximity-effect winding losses.
undesirable electric fields which radiated energy in all
Poor coupling can result in poor transmission performance
directions, the efforts made by Tesla made little success.
and low efficiency. Due to the large air gap between the
Various technologies for wireless power transfer like
primary and secondary windings, contactless transformers
capacitive coupling, microwave and laser method have been
have large leakage inductances, small mutual inductance and
proposed involving far fields. However it is the technology
low efficiency [1]–[3]. Compared to direct contact charging,
using magnetic resonance coupling has been found to be a
inductive charging efficiency is lower and resistive heating is
viable technology for midrange energy transfer. Further, this
higher. Realization of low frequency inductive charging in
means of energy transfer uses non-radiative mode of
electrical devices will lead to slow charging and heat
transmission and offers the use of connector free devices and
generation. Fig. 1 shows the basic components of the
is an alternative to the use of hazardous disposable batteries. WiTricity system.
Wireless energy transfer or WiTricity is currently extending
its applications to medical implants saving patients from This paper reports the study on a topical mode of energy
undergoing operations to replace the lithium ion batteries used
transmission using resonant technique, commonly known as
for pacemakers. Magnetic resonance is also being used for
WiTricity (short form of wireless electricity) [4]. Detailed
charging of electric vehicles while driving on a highway.
theoretical and numerical analyses reveal that WiTricity is
Since this technology can work even in water, powering of
efficient and practical for mid-range wireless energy exchange.
under- water cameras can be done reliably.
Unlike conventional inductive coupling methods, there are
Traditional plug and socket charging method cannot keep
only very small energy dissipations in off-resonant objects for
up with demands of consumers for safety and fast charging.
systems working on WiTricity principle [5].

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 International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT) – Volume 11 Number 6 - May 2014

II. ABOUT THE TECHNOLOGY principle of a primary coil generating a predominantly

magnetic field and a secondary coil being within that field so
A. Brief History a current is induced within its coils, when both of these are
 Nikola Telsa – Experimented in 1899 made to resonate at same frequency they become much
 Imagined a global wireless power distribution efficient.
system
 William Brown
 Established microwave to electricity conversion
 Invention of the Solar Panel
1) First NASA solar powered satellite 1958
 Oil Crisis
 NASA program
 Marine Soijacic and team – Experimented in 2007
 60- watt light bulb from a power source 7 feet
away without wires. [7]
 Currently looking for WiTricity in the range of
100 watts.
B. WiTricity Mechanisms
There are various methods of transferring electricity Fig. 3. Resonant Magnetic Coupled system.
wirelessly, basically they are classified as:
2) Far Field Transfer (Radiative): Far Field transfer refers
to methods achieving longer range transfers, often multiple
kilometre ranges, where the distance is much greater than the
diameter of the device(s).
a) Laser/Microwave Transmission: Such power
transmissions can be made effective at long range power
beaming, with shorter wavelengths of electromagnetic
radiation, typically in the microwave range. A rectenna may
be used to convert the microwave energy back into electricity.
These provide 95% efficiency. A new company, Powercast
introduced wireless power transfer technology using RF
energy this system is applicable for a number of devices with
low power requirements. Currently, it achieves a maximum
output of 6 volts for a little over one meter.
Fig. 2. Classification of WiTricity system.

1) Near Field Transfer (Non-Radiative): These are wireless

transmission techniques over distances comparable to, or a
few times the diameter of the device(s).
a) Inductive Coupling: Inductive coupling is the action of
electrical transformer is the simplest instance of wireless
energy transfer. The primary and secondary circuits of a
transformer are not directly connected. The transfer of energy
takes place by electromagnetic coupling through a process
known as mutual induction. The receiver must be very close
to the transmitter or induction unit in order to inductively
couple with it. Fig. 4. Example of European Space Agency Aeolus Satellite with laser beam
b) Resonance Coupling: The idea of such mid-range pointing at the Earth's atmosphere. Credits: ESA/AOES Medialab.
induction was given by Marin Soljacic for efficient wireless
transfer. The reason behind it is that, if two such resonant Energy Transmission via laser is an efficient way for long
objects are brought in mid-range proximity, their near fields range, except for it requires a proper line of sight for power
(consisting of so-called 'evanescent waves') and can allow the beaming. In the case of light, power can be transmitted by
energy to transfer from one object to the other within times converting electricity into a laser beam that is then fired at a
much shorter than all loss times, which were designed to be solar cell receiver. With such laser beam efficiencies it is
long, and thus with the maximum possible energy-transfer planned to build a solar panel grid in space & transferring the
efficiency. Electromagnetic resonance induction works on the solar energy to earth receivers via laser methods.

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 International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT) – Volume 11 Number 6 - May 2014

III. RESONANT COUPLED SYSTEM OVERVIEW inductances and small mutual inductance. Thus the coupling
The resonant coupled system is formulated on the basis of rates are very small, quite often less than 0.1, while those for
coupled mode theory [6]. A high frequency power source conventional transformers are between 0.95–0.98 [1]. Judging
drives power through a transmitting antenna. The transmitting on this aspect, inductive coupling technology is impractical.
antenna sends power wirelessly using electromagnetic For the WiTricity system, the coupling rate can however be as
resonance coupling to the receiving antennas. Near field high as 0.7–0.9 by virtue of the strong resonant frequency
coupling using evanescent field drives the receiving antennas. coupling between primary and secondary windings.
The distance of transmission can be increased using coupled To achieve high coupling rate and transmission efficiency,
source antennas which work as resonators [7]. This allows the sources with certain resonant frequency (in the MHz range) is
transmission to follow a curved transmission path in space. fed to the primary windings. Common formulas in the low
frequency range to predict the performance of the system are
IV. COMPARISON WITH INDUCTIVE COUPLING inapplicable as the values of inductances and resistors vary
Traditional inductive coupling methods have limited greatly as frequency changes, especially at high frequency.
transmission distance due to weak coupling between the A. Circuit Analysis
source and loads. This occurs in the charging of conventional
electric toothbrushes. The tooth brush with the receiving coil The proposed WiTricity system uses a pair of rectangular
is placed on the source cradle for getting charged. The spiral copper windings with the same shape and structure to
efficiency is as low as 1-2%. Using magnetic resonance the achieve wireless energy transfer. The amplitude of the
transmitting source coil frequency exactly matches the exciting voltage, which is given by an amplifier, is 25 V at the
frequency of the receiving coils at resonance. Since the energy frequency range from 0.01 MHz to 10 MHz. The induced
transfer is maximum at resonance, magnetic resonance electric field in the receiver is generated by variations in the
coupling is found to have an efficiency of about 45% as has magnetic flux produced by the transmitter coil. Particular
been demonstrated by the MIT team [7]–[8]. attention is paid to the analysis of the voltage received by the
receiver with different distances and different frequencies in
V. THEORY AND DESIGN OF THE PROPOSED SYSTEM order to find the energy transfer pattern.
As a new wireless power transfer technology, WiTricity is
based on the concept of near-field and strongly coupled
magnetic resonance. The fundamental principle is that
resonant object scan exchange energy efficiently, while non-
resonant objects only interact weakly. Fig. 5 shows the basic
design of the WiTricity system consists of source and device
resonators, a driving loop, and an output loop. The source
resonator is coupled to the driving loop which is linked to an
oscillator that supplies energy to the system. The device

Fig. 6. Circuite Design of WiTricity System.

B. Parameters for Designing and Simulation

a) Design Aspects: Design of Coil
The LC circuit does not resonate by itself the word resonance
refers to a class of phenomena in which a small driving
perturbation gives rise to a large effect in the system. The LC
circuit must be driven, for example by an AC power supply,
for resonance to occur. The frequency at which this equality
holds for the particular circuit is called the resonant frequency.
In order to achieve a resonance frequency in the
oscillator circuit the inductive reactance and the capacitive
reactance of the resonator coil will equal such that:
XL = XC (1)
resonator coil is coupled to the output loop to provide the Where ωL = 1÷ ωC
power to an external load. And ω = 2×π×f
Fig. 5. Basic Design of WiTricity System.
Capacitive Reactance: XC = 1 ÷ 2 fC (2)
In Inductive Coupling due to its large physical separation,
wireless inductive coupling transformers have large leakage Inductive Reactance: XL = 2 fL (3)

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 International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT) – Volume 11 Number 6 - May 2014

The blue and red colour bands illustrate their magnetic

Resonant Circuit formula: 4 2f2LC = 1 (4) fields. The coupling of their respective magnetic fields is
indicated by the connection of the colour bands. The
Where f = 1÷ 2 LC (5) simulation performance with and without external objects is
shown in Fig. 9.
XC = Capacitive Reactance in ohms b) Fabrication
XL = Inductive Reactance in ohms Firstly circuit was designed and simulated using live wire
f = Frequency in hertz simulation software to test if the concept works. After getting
L = Inductance in Henry output in the simulation, same circuit was tested on a
C = Capacitance in farads breadboard with LED as load. The circuit on the breadboard
worked perfectly fine. This ensured that the concept works.
Then a PCB layout was obtained using PCB wizard software.
The components were mounted on the general board
according to the PCB layout and then solder.

Fig. 7. Induction Calculations of Circular Ciol.

a) Simulation Model of Resonant Magnetic Coupling

Our experimental scheme consists of two Self-resonant
coils. One coil (source coil) is coupled inductively to an
oscillating circuit and other (device coil) is coupled Fig. 10. PCB layout obtained using PCB wizard software.
inductively to a resistive load. Self-resonant coils rely on their
varying or oscillating magnetic fields. Resonant coupling VI. BENEFITS AND LIMITATIONS OF WITRICITY
occurs when the natural frequencies of the two objects are A. Benefits of Design
approximately the same. Two idealized resonant magnetic 1) More Convenient
coils, shown in Fig. 8. a) No manual recharging or changing batteries.
b) Unaffected by the day night cycle, weather or
seasons.
c) Eliminate unsightly, unwieldy and costly power
cords.
2) More Reliable
a) Never run out of battery power.
b) Reduce product failure rates by fixing the
Fig. 8. Simulation Model using Resonant Magnetic Coupling. weakest link: flexing wiring and mechanical
interconnects.
3) More Eco Friendly
a) Reduce use of disposable batteries.
b) Use efficient electric grid power directly instead
of inefficient battery charging.
B. Limitations of Design
1) The resonance condition should be satisfied and
if any error exists, there is no possibility of
power transfer.
a) Without External Objects
b) With External Objects 2) If there is any possibility of Very Strong
ferromagnetic material presence, then there may
Fig. 9. Simulation Performance with and without External Objects in
between the coils. be a possibility of low power transfer due to
radiation.

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 International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT) – Volume 11 Number 6 - May 2014

VII. FEATURES AND APPLICATIONS OF WITRICITY 2) Consumer Electronics

A. Features of WiTricity a) Automatic wireless charging of mobile electronics
1) Highly Resonant Strong Coupling Provides High (phones, laptops, game controllers, etc.) in home, car, office,
Efficiency Over Distance: WiTricity mode of wireless power Wi-Fi hotspots while devices are in use and mobile.
transfer is highly efficient over distances ranging from b) Direct wireless powering of stationary devices (flat
screen TV‘s, digital picture frames, home theatre accessories,
centimeters to several meters. Efficiency may be defined as
wireless loud speakers, etc.) eliminating expensive custom
the amount of usable electrical energy that is available to the
wiring, unsightly cables and wall-wart power supplies.
device being powered, divided by the amount of energy that is
c) Direct wireless powering of desktop PC peripherals:
drawn by the WiTricity source. In many applications, wireless mouse, keyboard, printer, speakers, display, etc.
efficiency can exceed 90%. And WiTricity sources only eliminating disposable batteries and awkward cabling.
transfer energy when it is needed. When a WiTricity powered
device no longer needs to capture additional energy, the
WiTricity power source will automatically reduce its power
consumption to a power saving idle state.
2) Energy Transfer via Magnetic Near Field Can
Penetrate and Wrap Around Obstacle: The magnetic near
field has several properties that make it an excellent means of
transferring energy in a typical consumer, commercial, or
industrial environment. Most common building and furnishing
materials, such as wood, gypsum wall board, plastics, textiles,
glass, brick, and concrete are essentially transparent to
magnetic fieldsenabling WiTricity technology to efficiently
transfer power through them. In addition, the magnetic near
field has the ability to wrap around many metallic obstacles
that might otherwise block the magnetic fields. WiTricity
applications engineering team will work with you to address Fig. 12. Automatic Wireless charging of Mobile electronics.
the materials and environmental factors that may influence
wireless energy transfer in your application. 3) Industrial
B. Applications of WiTricity a) Direct wireless power and communication
WiTricity wireless power transfer technology can be interconnections across rotating and moving joints (robots,
applied in a wide variety of applications and environments. packaging machinery, assembly machinery, machine tools)
The ability of our technology to transfer power safely, eliminating costly and failure-prone wiring.
efficiently, and over distance can improve products by making b) Direct wireless power for wireless sensors and
them more convenient, reliable, and environmentally friendly. actuators, eliminating the need for expensive power wiring or
WiTricity technology can be used to provide: battery replacement and disposal.
1) Automatic Wireless Power Charging: When all the 4) Transportation
a) Automatic wireless charging for existing electric
power a device needs is provided wirelessly, and no batteries
vehicle classes: golf carts, industrial vehicles.
are required. This mode is for a device that is always used
b) Automatic wireless charging for future hybrid and all-
within range of its WiTricity power source. When a device electric passenger and commercial vehicles, at home, in
with rechargeable batteries charges itself while still in use or parking garages, at fleet depots, and at remote kiosks.
at rest, without requiring a power cord or battery replacement. c) Direct wireless power interconnections to replace
This mode is for a mobile device that may be used both in and costly vehicle wiring harnesses and slip rings.
out of range of its WiTricity power source.

Fig. 11. Automatic Wireless Power Charging. Fig. 13. Automatic Wireless charging for Electric Vehicle.

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 International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology (IJETT) – Volume 11 Number 6 - May 2014

5) Medical Application: Wireless charging systems are VIII. CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE WORK
being developed for implanted medical devices including Left This provides mid-range non-radiative energy transfer
ventricular assist device (LVAD) heart assist pumps, scheme based on strongly-coupled resonances. Even very
pacemakers, and infusion pumps. Using highly resonant simple design has promising performance and provides better
wireless power transfer, such devices can be efficiently efficiency with respect to distance. As a powerful concept, it
powered through the skin and over distances much greater could enable a wide range of applications. We can call
than the thickness of the skin, so that power can be supplied to WiTricity as future technology of Electricity transmission for
devices deeply implanted within the human body. The HR- power consumer.
WPT technique eliminates the need for drive lines that MIT's WiTricity is only 40 to 45% efficient and according
penetrate the human body, and for surgical replacement of to Soljacic, they have to be twice as efficient to compete with
primary batteries. the traditional chemical batteries. The team's next aim is to get
a robotic vacuum or a laptop working, charging devices
placed anywhere in the room and even robots on factory floors.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors wish to thank the reviewers and editors for
their valuable suggestions and expert comments that help
improve the paper.

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Fig. 15. Highly resonant wireless charging system for Military applications.

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