Batteryless Powering of Remote Sensors with Reversed Peltier Power Source for Ubiquitous Environments

Abstract

The need for remote monitoring of almost every place in the world is still growing, while many new technical solutions are extensively developed by research community. The knowledge of the environment and the weather conditions of human environment is, in certain cases of polluted places in heavy industrial areas, necessary to allow real-time warnings about deteriorating conditions to living community in these desired places. While huge money investments were used for real-time monitoring of every possible quantity of human body, people's living environment became increasingly poorer. In this paper we present a modern and relatively cheap solution for powering some types of intelligent sensors in which traditional battery power source is insufficient and other powering options are not applicable. Obtaining the energy to supply sensors is possible even from immediate sensors' environment. Sources (which are utilizing thermal gradient) are supplying energy from the surrounding environment and without the need for high-intensity incident light (solar energy based). In order to achieve the full working mode, only a small thermal gradient is needed in order of degrees. The developed test application is using sophisticated electronic circuit provided by Linear Technology Company, which is able to use even small energy bursts for discontinuous intelligent sensors operations. The heat energy is converted into electric energy which is stored in very high-capacity capacitor (about 1 F). This power supply type is suitable for any environment, where some permanent thermal gradient is presented.

Commercial ICT Smart Solutions for the Elderly: State of the Art and Future Challenges in the Smart Furniture Sector

“…On the other hand, if there is only one possible remote power source such as a battery, a low energy aspect also needs to be investigated. One possible solution can be found in energy harvesting which can be used even as a main power source [134][135][136]. The best example is the window, where is the bid difference of in/out temperatures, which is needed by Thermoelectric Energy Harvesting (TEG) to provide the voltage difference [135].…”

A simple method for harvesting thermoelectric energy in home and industrial appliances heat cycle using peltier cells

“…Some applications in which this type of transducer Energy are used for energy harvesting from several ambient sources are reported in the literature [9,10]. Thermoelectric modules are typically composed of Peltier cells and have been widely used for low-power applications because of their accessibility [11], the absence of moving parts, low cost, and lightweight [1,12]. Some works describe the modelling, performance evaluation, or applications of thermoelectric modules as an energy source for autonomous low-power electronic devices.…”