Review of Power Converter Impact of Electromagnetic Energy Harvesting Circuits and Devices for Autonomous Sensor Applications

Abstract

The demand for power is increasing due to the rapid growth of the population. Therefore, energy harvesting (EH) from ambient sources has become popular. The reduction of power consumption in modern wireless systems provides a basis for the replacement of batteries with the electromagnetic energy harvesting (EMEH) approach. This study presents a general review of the EMEH techniques for autonomous sensor (ATS) applications. Electromagnetic devices show great potential when used to power such ATS technologies or convert mechanical energy to electrical energy. As its power source, this stage harvests ambient energy and features a self-starting and self-powered process without the use of batteries. Therefore, it consumes low power and is highly stable for harvesting energy from the environment with low ambient energy sources. The review highlights EMEH circuits, low power EMEH devices, power electronic converters, and controllers utilized in numerous applications, and described their impacts on energy conservation, benefits, and limitation. This study ultimately aims to suggest a smart, low-voltage electronic circuit for a low-power sensor that harvests electromagnetic energy. This review also focuses on various issues and suggestions of future EMEH for low power autonomous sensors.

A Bibliometric Analysis of Low-Cost Piezoelectric Micro-Energy Harvesting Systems from Ambient Energy Sources: Current Trends, Issues and Suggestions

“…The research interest in low-cost piezoelectric micro-energy harvesting (PMEH) devices in energy harvesters has grown significantly over the last decade, and it has become one of the most interesting trends in future low-power sensor applications [1][2][3]. The topic of low-cost PMEH has risen to prominence as a fascinating new topic in terms of application and the need for alternative energy sources for the electrical powering of various microelectronics devices [4,5].…”

“…Previous research work on low-cost PMEH using electromagnetic, electrostatic, and multi-frequency mechanical vibration-based electromagnetic energy conversion was published in different publications [1,8,9]. Meanwhile, research on functional materials, such as polymer composites that are applied to an electromagnetic actuator, and the integration of PMEH into the IoT, have significantly expanded the literature in the field of low-cost energy harvester (EH) systems [10,11].…”

Advanced Prototype of an Electrical Control Unit for an MR Damper Powered by Energy Harvested from Vibrations

“…Advancements in energy-harvesting technology with MR dampers were made in [11]. A general review of electromagnetic energy-harvesting techniques for autonomous sensor applications was presented in [12]. It is worth mentioning that some electromagnetic harvesters of special structure can provide an amount of power large enough to power actuators, such as MR dampers.…”

Prospects of Wireless Energy-Aware Sensors for Smart Factories in the Industry 4.0 Era

“…Various valuable reviews have given insights into industrial wireless networks in the context of Industry 4.0 [6]. Some of them deal with energy harvesting technologies to supply wireless sensor nodes by using a certain type of ambient sources such as vibration [7], sound [8], and electromagnetic [9] and carbon nanocomposite-based energy generators [10]. Another type of review focused on the study of different energy harvesting sources to achieve self-power wireless sensor nodes for specific industrial applications, such as in machine condition monitoring [11], railway applications [12], and aeronautical industries [13].…”