Event-Triggered Solar Powering for Level and Pressure Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional field devices in industrial environments face challenges with energy efficiency and maintenance due to continuous power consumption and frequent battery replacements, especially when measuring variables like filling levels, limit levels, and pressures across multiple points.
Innovation Solution
An energy management system with a solar harvesting arrangement and a control device that activates the measuring sensor in an event-oriented manner, using light energy to power the sensor only when necessary, reducing unnecessary energy loss and extending the device's lifespan.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the measuring sensor is operated continuously or in a fixed predetermined time pattern, then the measurement coverage is comprehensive, but the energy consumption is relatively intensive and maintenance effort increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic activation of the measuring sensor based on event triggers rather than continuous operation. The control device activates the sensor only when specific events occur (light conditions, temperature changes, vibration detection, external triggers), creating a periodic measurement pattern that significantly reduces energy consumption while maintaining measurement reliability when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The energy management arrangement enables the measuring sensor to power itself through energy harvesting from environmental sources. The system harvests energy from light, temperature differences, vibrations, or other environmental factors to generate electrical energy, allowing the sensor to operate autonomously without external power supply or battery replacement, thus reducing both energy consumption from external sources and maintenance effort.
2Reliability
If the measuring sensor is operated continuously, then all measurements are captured, but the maintenance effort for battery replacement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The energy management arrangement with energy harvesting capability allows the measuring sensor to generate its own operating energy from environmental sources. This self-powering mechanism eliminates the need for external battery replacement or power supply maintenance, significantly reducing maintenance effort while ensuring continuous operation capability when energy is available.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses event-oriented periodic activation rather than continuous operation. The sensor is activated only when specific events occur (light conditions, temperature changes, vibration, external triggers), which reduces the overall operational time and energy consumption, thereby extending battery life and reducing maintenance frequency while still capturing all relevant measurements during active periods.
3Measurement precision
If the measuring sensor is activated frequently, then measurement accuracy is maintained, but energy loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The energy management arrangement harvests energy from environmental sources (light, temperature differences, vibrations) to power the measuring sensor. This self-service energy generation allows the sensor to maintain measurement accuracy when activated without contributing to net energy loss, as the energy is sourced from the environment rather than depleting stored energy reserves.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements event-oriented periodic activation where the sensor is activated only when specific events occur that warrant measurement (light conditions, temperature changes, vibration detection, external triggers). This selective periodic activation maintains measurement precision for relevant events while minimizing unnecessary activations that would cause energy loss, optimizing the balance between accuracy and energy consumption.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution results in a low-maintenance, energy-saving measuring system that minimizes energy consumption and extends the service life of the measuring sensors by using solar energy to power the sensors only when required, reducing the need for frequent battery replacements and lowering maintenance costs.
Implementation Method 1
The energy management arrangement has a solar harvesting arrangement as a first supply unit which is configured to supply the measurement sensor with electrical energy in the operating mode
Data Source
AI summary
A measuring system which is configured to measure a filling level, a limit level and/or a pressure. The measuring system includes a measuring sensor having an operating mode, and an energy management arrangement, which has a control device and is configured to control the power supply for the measuring sensor. The control device of the energy management arrangement is coupled to the measurement sensor and is configured to activate the operating mode of the measurement sensor in an event-oriented manner and/or to generate the electrical energy for operating the measurement sensor in the operating mode and/or to supply the measurement sensor in the operating mode with the generated electrical energy. The present disclosure further relates to an energy management arrangement for a measuring system, a method by a measuring system for measuring a level, a limit level and/or a pressure and a computer-readable medium.