Energy Harvester Powered Wireless Sensors for Extreme Temperature Environments

Application of wireless sensors in industrial markets is generally more technically challenging due to the need for a higher level of robustness and tolerance to harsh environmental conditions. Although numerous wireless sensor products exist for industrial wireless sensing, powering the sensors and their use in high temperature environments remain key technical limiters for broad industrial market applicability. This proposal is concerned with addressing key issues that limit large scale deployment of wireless sensors in power plants and other industrial environments. This problem is addressed by using: 1) temperature control of electronics in high temperature environments, 2) high temperature tolerance of thermal and vibration energy harvesters, 3) conditioning and reliably supplying voltage to wireless sensors, and 4) energy harvester mechanical robustness. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: Scavenging energy to power these wireless sensors will reduce total lifecycle costs by eliminating the need for a battery change. The lifecycle costs can be slashed by decreasing the mean time between attentions (MTBA) to each sensor. The benefits of these technologies are further enhanced by insertion in high temperature environments.