State-of-the-art literature review of WPT: Current limitations and solutions on IPT

N. Tesla, the prospector of the power delivery in free space, suggested a huge amount of power can be transferred through the earth while G. Marconi concentrated on inventing wireless communication system over the ocean a hundred years ago. Whereas the telecommunication technology has been developed successfully, the development of wireless power transfer (WPT) system had been stagnant over decades as large devices were required to create the resonant oscillation in a safety manner and the system indicated low efficiency. Due to the development of power devices and the day-by-day increase of mobile products, electric vehicles and wireless sensors in smart grids, WPT technology is expected to undergo substantial advancement and significant power systems applications in the near future. This paper is aimed at introducing a state-of-the-art review for existing WPT technologies with detailed comparison. The paper also presents the limitation of inductive power transfer system through simulation and practical analyses. Finally, recommendations and future perspective to overcome these limitations are provided with four main themes: design, efficiency, stability, and safety.