Abstract
Reduction in size and power consumption of consumer electronics has opened up many opportunities for low power wireless sensor networks. One of the major challenges is in supporting battery operated devices as the number of nodes in a network grows. The two main alternatives are to utilize higher energy density sources of stored energy, or to generate power at the node from local forms of energy. This paper reviews the state-of-the art technology in the field of both energy storage and energy harvesting for sensor nodes. The options discussed for energy storage include batteries, capacitors, fuel cells, heat engines and betavoltaic systems. The field of energy harvesting is discussed with reference to photovoltaics, temperature gradients, fluid flow, pressure variations and vibration harvesting.
Highlights
Reduction in size and power consumption of consumer electronics has opened up many new opportunities for low power wireless sensor networks
Some energy harvesting techniques generate much higher voltages, produce AC power, or do not have sufficient power to run the node directly. The result of this is that electronics are required to condition the power for the device and, critically, secondary energy storage in the form of capacitors or rechargeable batteries will be required
In terms of daily power there is approximately 0.1 W/cm2 peak. This offers a huge potential for wireless sensor node energy scavenging as a solar collector at 12 − 15% efficiency with the area of 25 cm2 would produce over 300
Summary
Reduction in size and power consumption of consumer electronics has opened up many new opportunities for low power wireless sensor networks Such networks have significant potential in a Sensors 2008, 8 variety of applications, including monitoring of animal health and behaviour, structural monitoring for mining equipment and measuring water salinity levels of oceans and rivers. Some energy harvesting techniques generate much higher voltages, produce AC power, or do not have sufficient power to run the node directly The result of this is that electronics are required to condition the power for the device and, critically, secondary energy storage in the form of capacitors or rechargeable batteries will be required. Many of the power options involve taking a technology which has been proven on large scale applications and scaling it down to dimensions suitable for the sensor node This approach often runs into technical difficulties due to different effects which come into play at smaller scales. The magnitude of this power could exceed the power requirement of the node itself, effectively halving the battery life
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