Wireless Sensor Power Harvesting With Open and Closed Magnetic Circuits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless sensing devices for monitoring electrical components face limitations in adaptability and installation efficiency due to harsh environmental conditions and high maintenance costs, particularly when dealing with a variety of electrical components and geometrical configurations, and current energy harvesting solutions are designed for specific current ranges.
Innovation Solution
A sensing device with an energy harvesting unit featuring an electromagnetic coil wound around a core with high magnetic permeability, allowing energy harvesting via both open and closed magnetic circuits, and a connection mechanism for a strap with high magnetic permeability to enhance adaptability and efficiency across different current ranges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If energy harvesting solutions are designed for specific geometrical configurations and current ranges, then energy harvesting efficiency is improved for those specific cases, but adaptability to different electrical components and current ranges deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic circuit configuration is made dynamic and adjustable. The sensing device can operate with different magnetic circuit configurations (closed or open) depending on the application requirements, allowing the same device to adapt to different current ranges and electrical component geometries while maintaining efficient energy harvesting
Solution Approach 2:
The sensing device is designed to perform multiple functions and work with different electrical components through a single unified design. By incorporating adjustable magnetic circuit configurations and adaptable sensing parameters, one device can serve multiple applications across various current ranges and geometrical configurations
2Ease of operation
If battery-operated devices are used for wireless sensing, then sensing operation and wireless communication can be powered, but maintenance costs increase and device reliability deteriorates in harsh environmental conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The device powers itself by harvesting energy from the electromagnetic fields generated by the electrical conductors it monitors. This self-powered operation eliminates batteries and external power sources, making the device maintenance-free and highly reliable in harsh industrial environments where the conductors generate sufficient electromagnetic energy
Solution Approach 2:
The device converts the potentially harmful high-voltage electromagnetic fields around electrical conductors into beneficial power for operation. By harvesting energy from these fields, the device transforms the hazardous environment into a power source, enabling reliable operation without batteries in harsh industrial conditions
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 sensing device can operate effectively across a range of current levels, from high to low, improving energy harvesting efficiency and performance, making it suitable for diverse industrial environments with mixed current applications.
Implementation Method 1
energy can be harvested from an alternating magnetic field surrounding an electrical conductor like a busbar
Implementation Method 2
The energy harvesting unit includes an electromagnetic coil wound around a core. The sensing device further includes a connection mechanism to make the core connectable to a strap including a material having a high magnetic permeability
Data Source
Figure 1~3d
Figure 3e~4c
AI summary
A sensing device for monitoring an electrical component or apparatus is described. The sensing device is attachable to an electrical conductor and includes a sensor for measuring at least one physical property, a wireless communication unit for transmitting measurement data to a receiver, an energy harvesting unit configured to harvest energy from a current flowing through the electrical conductor and comprising an electromagnetic coil wound around a core, and a connection mechanism to make the core connectable to a strap comprising a material having a high magnetic permeability. The sensing device is configured to be operable when no strap is connected to the core and energy is harvested via an open magnetic circuit as well as when a strap is connected to the core and energy is harvested via a closed magnetic circuit.