A Smart Energy Harvesting Platform for Wireless Sensor Network Applications

Gabriel Filios,Ioannis Tsenempis,Sotiris Nikoletseas,Ioannis Katsidimas

doi:10.3390/info10110345

Gabriel Filios, Ioannis Tsenempis + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/info10110345

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Abstract

Advances in micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) as well as the solutions for power scavenging can now provide feasible alternatives in a variety of applications. Wireless sensor networks (WSN), which operate on rechargeable batteries, could be based on a fresh basis which aims both at environmental power collection and wireless charging in various shapes and scales. Consequently, a potential illimitable energy supply can override the hypothesis of the limited energy budget (which can also impact the system’s efficiency). The presented platform is able to efficiently power a low power IoT system with processing, sensing and wireless transmission potentials. It incorporates a cutting-edge energy management IC that enables exceptional energy harvesting, applicable on low power and downsized energy generators. In contrast to other schemes, it supports not only a range of power supply alternatives, but also a compound energy depository system. The objective of this paper is to describe the design of the system, the integrated intelligence and the power autonomy performance.

Highlights

Wireless sensor networks render their existence in modernized lives day after day more powerful and essential
Energy collection can commonly be analyzed in two main classes: (a) Depending only on harvested energy available at the moment and (b) utilizing a storage module to save excessive ambient energy for future use
The second case eliminates a major drawback of the first, where the system alternates between active and inactive states. It incorporates a storage module like a battery or a capacitor to save excessive harvested energy so the system can stay operational even when ambient conditions are such that the harvester cannot generate enough energy

Summary

Introduction

Wireless sensor networks render their existence in modernized lives day after day more powerful and essential. They are one of the cornerstones of concepts such as industry 4.0, smart cities and the Internet of Things, so they can obtain all the required data and develop smart systems for security, life quality enhancement, pre-maintenance measures and many other utilities. The second case eliminates a major drawback of the first, where the system alternates between active and inactive states It incorporates a storage module like a battery or a capacitor to save excessive harvested energy so the system can stay operational even when ambient conditions are such that the harvester cannot generate enough energy

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