Self-Autonomous Wireless Sensor Nodes With Wind Energy Harvesting for Remote Sensing of Wind-Driven Wildfire Spread

2011 ◽  
Vol 60 (4) ◽  
pp. 1367-1377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yen Kheng Tan ◽  
Sanjib Kumar Panda
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
Wind Energy ◽  
Sensor Nodes ◽  
Wireless Sensor ◽  
Wireless Sensor Nodes ◽  
Wildfire Spread

Piezoelectric wind energy harvester for low-power sensors

2011 ◽  
Vol 22 (18) ◽  
pp. 2215-2228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jayant Sirohi ◽  
Rohan Mahadik
Keyword(s):  
Energy Harvesting ◽  
Wind Energy ◽  
Mechanical Energy ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
Load Resistance ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Sensor Nodes ◽  
Wireless Sensor ◽  
Wireless Sensor Nodes ◽  
Piezoelectric Energy

There has been increasing interest in wireless sensor networks for a variety of outdoor applications including structural health monitoring and environmental monitoring. Replacement of batteries that power the nodes in these networks is maintenance intensive. A wind energy–harvesting device is proposed as an alternate power source for these wireless sensor nodes. The device is based on the galloping of a bar with triangular cross section attached to a cantilever beam. Piezoelectric sheets bonded to the beam convert the mechanical energy into electrical energy. A prototype device of size approximately 160 × 250 mm was fabricated and tested over a range of operating conditions in a wind tunnel, and the power dissipated across a load resistance was measured. A maximum power output of 53 mW was measured at a wind velocity of 11.6 mph. An analytical model incorporating the coupled electromechanical behavior of the piezoelectric sheets and quasi-steady aerodynamics was developed. The model showed good correlation with measurements, and it was concluded that a refined aerodynamic model may need to include apparent mass effects for more accurate predictions. The galloping piezoelectric energy-harvesting device has been shown to be a viable option for powering wireless sensor nodes in outdoor applications.

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