Metamaterial-Based Sub-Microwave Electromagnetic Field Energy Harvesting System

Mikołaj Nowak

doi:10.3390/en14123370

Abstract

This paper presents the comprehensive analysis of the sub-microwave, radio frequency band resonant metastructures’ electromagnetic properties with a particular emphasis on the possibility of their application in energy harvesting systems. Selected structures based on representative topologies of metamaterials have been implemented in the simulation environment. The models have been analyzed and their substitute average electromagnetic parameters (absorption, reflection, transmission and homogenized permeability coefficients) have been determined. On the basis of simulation research, prototypes of electromagnetic field two-dimensional absorbers have been manufactured and verified experimentally in the proposed test system. The absorber has been implemented as a component of the low-cost energy harvesting system with a high-frequency rectifier and a voltage multiplier, obtaining usable DC energy from the electromagnetic field in certain frequency bands. The energy efficiency of the system has been determined and the potential application in energy harvesting technology has been assessed.

Highlights

IntroductionThe dynamic development of semiconductor integrated circuit technology, the growing share of wireless powered devices on the industrial and consumer market (in particular in the field of IoT technology, wearable devices and wireless measurement systems) as well as the current pro-ecological policy resulted in the dissemination of electronic devices for which the average demand for electric power does not exceed a single milliwatt
The dynamic development of semiconductor integrated circuit technology, the growing share of wireless powered devices on the industrial and consumer market as well as the current pro-ecological policy resulted in the dissemination of electronic devices for which the average demand for electric power does not exceed a single milliwatt
In order to compare the efficiency of electromagnetic field energy absorption by conventional antenna systems and metamaterial absorbers in the radio frequency range, the frequency characteristics of the receiver power have been measured in the test system as shown in Figures 11 and 12

Summary

Introduction

The dynamic development of semiconductor integrated circuit technology, the growing share of wireless powered devices on the industrial and consumer market (in particular in the field of IoT technology, wearable devices and wireless measurement systems) as well as the current pro-ecological policy resulted in the dissemination of electronic devices for which the average demand for electric power does not exceed a single milliwatt. The available energy harvesting (EH) solutions are mostly based on commonly used photovoltaic sources. Today there is another potential source of energy—the ubiquitous electromagnetic radiation with a frequency band from hundreds of kHz to tens of GHz [1], the so-called “electro-smog”. The sources of this radiation are very diverse—from intentionally installed radio and telecommunications transmitters to sources whose emission is an undesirable side effect. The available literature presents various methods of recovering electric energy from the electromagnetic field, mostly based on antenna systems [1,2]. The undoubted disadvantages of antennas, are their low geometric compactness (small active surface in relation to the occupied volume) and relatively low absorption (the ability to absorb electromagnetic field energy) [3,4,5,6]

Methods

Results

Conclusion