Feature: Energy harvesting
Figure 3: NTT EAST uses in its remote facilities the battery-less water leak sensor based on Ablic’s technology
Figure 4 (top) and 5 (bottom): Battery-less water leakage sensor operation
less devices, like a water leak sensor, for example; see Figures 3-5. Here, the device detects even the smallest drops of water leakage, which helps minimise damage through early detection. And since the device can be powered wirelessly with low-level energy, there’s no need for an external power source or wiring, making it ideal for retrofi tting into existing structures, without the inconvenience of extensive installation and maintenance. T e Japanese telecommunications
operator NTT EAST uses this battery-less water leak sensor (Figure 3) to monitor water problems at its unmanned facilities. Remote site monitoring avoids the need for regular visits by maintenance workers, sometimes in bad weather conditions, thereby increasing safety and effi ciency and reducing the costs of its operations. If water penetrates the sensor ribbon,
it reacts with the internal electrodes, generating minute electricity. T e sensor’s
detection limit is 150μl/min of water at ambient Ta
= 25°C. Its parameters include
40% RH, electrical conductivity of 200μS/ cm, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) 4.2 and wireless notifi cation by Beacon (0dBmtyp
). T e water absorbed by the sensor
ribbon reacts with the metal wire electrodes woven into it, generating this electricity, which is accumulated and boosted by the wireless tag that uses Ablic’s CLEAN-Boost technology; see Figure 4. T e boosted power drives the BLE module, then notifi es the user of any water leakage via wireless transmission. T e wireless transmission operation
consumes the stored power and, when that reaches zero, the power is stored and boosted again; see Figure 5.
CLEAN-Boost in applications CLEAN-Boost shows versatility and therefore great promise for many diff erent environments and applications
beyond leak detection, including moisture- powered sensors and bioelectric soil sensors. Research around microbial electricity
generation, enzyme-based power generation and bio-electrochemical reactions continues to increase the applicability of this technology. By converting biological processes into electricity, CLEAN-Boost is pursuing new possibilities in sustainable power generation, including the use of substances like lactate, fructose and alcohol. For example, in factory automation
systems, CLEAN-Boost generates electricity based on the temperature diff erence between equipment with a strong heat source (like hot pipes, for example) and the outside air or cold-water piping. T is small amount of energy is accumulated and boosted with CLEAN-Boost, to then power sensors and devices that detect and measure temperature and humidity inside the
www.electronicsworld.co.uk April 2024 31
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