transformer - How to overcome transistor heat in slayer exciter?

I build this circuit and it works but I have two problems. The major problem is that the transistor becomes very hot quickly. I burnt my transistor due to excessive heat. How can I get rid of the very high temperature of the transistor.

The second problem is that the circuit does not provide enough range. When I approach a florescent lamp, It does not light up. I brought a wire and modified its shape to be round (a circle). It looks like a coil that have one turn. I connected the high voltage terminal to one of the coil's terminals. The other terminal of the coil is not connected (open circuit). When I put the florescent lamp inside the coil it lights up. This is a very small range. I need a good range, something like 5 or 10 cm.
I need to know how to achieve a good wireless range? and What controls the range? Is it supply voltage, the base resistor or something else?

My supply voltage was 10 volts because I don't have a battery of 9 volts. The number of turns of the coil is 300 instead of 275.

Thank you,

Answer

Have you tried finding the current through the coil? Find the current through the coil. You can either simulate it with a spice package or place a meter between the coil and transistor. Once you know the current use the equations located in this online textbook in chapter 11 Inductance and Magnetic energy (Yeah it requires math).

Then find the magnetic field through the coil (you'll need to know the area of the coil and the turns.) Then calculate what kind of energy you need at the input coil. I'll give you a hint as to what you'll find. Your coil is generating a magnetic field at a certain frequency, keep in mind the magnetic field is going to 'attenuate' by the the inverse cube of the distance (magnetic field=1/(distance^3)). Meaning if you had 1 unit of magnetic field at 1cm, at 2cm you will have 1/8th of the field, at 3cm you will have 1/27th and so on. By the time you get to 10cm you will have 1/1000 of your original field so you will need ~1000x the current or you will need to redesign your coil.

This is also why there will forever be companies that promise wireless power but you never see any products beyond the charging pads. The lightbulb demonstrations use phenomenal amounts of power even with a directed antenna(coil). The best one I've seen is this one Wireless power transmission. You can changed the antenna/coil however and it can help. Look up Helmholtz coil if you think that might work for your application. If you want you can parallel several BJT's if you want them to get less hot.