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--- en:iot-reloaded:energy_sources_for_iot_systems [2024/12/06 11:43] – [Main power] ktokarz
+++ en:iot-reloaded:energy_sources_for_iot_systems [2025/05/13 15:15] (current) – pczekalski
@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
-=====Main power=====
+=====Grid power=====
-In IoT applications where the hardware devices do not need to be mobile and are energy-hungry (consume significant energy), they can be reliably powered using main power sources. The main power from the grid is AC power, which should be converted to DC power and scaled down to meet the power requirements of sensing, actuating, computing, and networking nodes. The hardware devices at the networking or transport layer and those at the application layer (fog/cloud computing nodes) are often power-hungry and supplied using grid energy.
+In IoT applications where the hardware devices do not need to be mobile and are energy-hungry (consume significant energy), they can be reliably powered using grid power sources. The mains power from the grid is AC power, which should be converted to DC power and scaled down to meet the power requirements of sensing, actuating, computing, and networking nodes. The hardware devices at the networking or transport layer and those at the application layer (fog/cloud computing nodes) are often power-hungry and supplied using grid energy.
-A drawback of using the main power to supply an IoT infrastructure with many IoT devices that depend on the main power source is the complexity of connecting the devices to the power source using cables. In the case of hundreds or thousands of devices, supplying them using the main power is impractical. If the energy from the main source is generated using fossil fuels, then the carbon footprint from the IoT infrastructure increases as its energy demands increase.
+A drawback of using the main power to supply an IoT infrastructure with many IoT devices that depend on the grid power source is the complexity of connecting the devices to the power source using cables. In the case of hundreds or thousands of devices, supplying them using the main power is impractical. If the energy from the grid source is generated using fossil fuels, then the carbon footprint from the IoT infrastructure increases as its energy demands increase.
@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 ==== Categories of Energy Storage Systems ====
-   -Electrostatic energy storage systems: It use capacitors to store energy as an electric field. They are suitable for high-speed energy release but limited in storage capacity.
+   - Electrostatic energy storage systems: They use capacitors to store energy as an electric field. They are suitable for high-speed energy release but limited in storage capacity.
    - Magnetic energy storage system: This includes superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) systems, which store energy as a magnetic field in superconducting materials. These systems provide high efficiency and rapid discharge but require advanced cooling systems to maintain superconductivity.
-   -Electrochemical energy storage systems: Store energy through reversible chemical reactions in batteries. Common types include lithium-ion, lead-acid, alkaline, solid-state thin-film, and 3D-printed zinc batteries. Suitable for a wide range of applications, from tiny IoT sensors to more extensive infrastructures like data centres.
+   - Electrochemical energy storage systems Store energy through reversible chemical reactions in batteries. Common types include lithium-ion, lead-acid, alkaline, solid-state thin-film, and 3D-printed zinc batteries. These batteries suit many applications, from tiny IoT sensors to more extensive infrastructures like data centres.
    -Chemical energy storage systems: The electrical energy generated is converted to chemical energy and stored in chemical fuels that can be easily converted into electrical energy. The energy generated can be stored in chemical forms such as hydrogen for a long time and used when necessary. In this case, energy is harvested from renewable energy sources such as solar or wind when conditions are good, like spring or summer and used during winter when conditions are not favourable for renewable energy generation.
    -Mechanical energy storage systems: The electrical energy produced is converted into mechanical energy (e.g., potential and kinetic energy) and stored in a mechanical energy storage system. The mechanical energy is stored to be easily converted back to electrical energy for consumption. Examples of mechanical energy storage systems include pumped hydro energy storage systems, gravity energy storage systems, compressed air energy storage systems, and flywheel energy storage systems. Mechanical energy storage systems are vast and complex. They may be used as an energy storage option for fixed IoT infrastructures like base station sites or data centres, provided there is space for it and the area's geography is suitable. It may not be an energy storage option for small IoT systems constrained by size and weight.
    -Electrothermal energy storage system: The electrical energy generated is converted to thermal energy, which is stored and used for heating, cooling, or conversion purposes for large-scale infrastructure (e.g., base stations, core network infrastructure, or fog/cloud data centres). The thermal energy can be stored and converted into electrical energy for consumption.
-   -Hybrid energy storage system: This system combines multiple storage technologies (e.g., batteries with supercapacitors) to balance capacity, discharge rate, and longevity. It offers flexibility and performance optimization for diverse IoT applications.
+   -Hybrid energy storage system: This system combines multiple storage technologies (e.g., batteries with supercapacitors) to balance capacity, discharge rate, and longevity. It offers flexibility and performance optimisation for diverse IoT applications.
 Most IoT devices are powered using a small energy storage system (e.g., battery or supercapacitor) with minimal energy capacity. The energy storage system, in the form of a battery or supercapacitor, is charged to its full capacity when the device is being deployed. The device is shut down when all the energy stored in the energy storage system is completely consumed or drained. The device's lifetime is the time from when the device is deployed to when all the energy stored in its energy storage system is consumed. The capacity of the energy storage is often chosen in such a way as to satisfy the energy consumption demand of the device and ensure a longer lifetime for the device. In a massive deployment of thousands or hundreds of thousands of IoT devices, frequent replacement or recharging of batteries or supercapacitors can be tedious and costly and may also degrade the quality of service.
@@ Line 48: / Line 48: @@
   * Size and Weight: Energy storage capacity must be balanced with the need for compact designs.
-  * Energy Demand: Devices are optimized for low power consumption (in the range of micro or milliWatts) and often operate in sleep mode to conserve energy.
+  * Energy Demand: Devices are optimised for low power consumption (in the range of micro or milliWatts) and often operate in sleep mode to conserve energy.
-  * Lifetime: The energy storage system's capacity determines the device's operational lifetime, which is designed to minimize frequent replacements or recharging.
+  * Lifetime: The energy storage system's capacity determines the device's operational lifetime, which is designed to minimise frequent replacements or recharging.
 The most common energy storage systems used in small IoT devices include:
@@ Line 96: / Line 96: @@
   * Energy Efficiency vs. Size: Increasing energy capacity often results in larger, heavier systems, which may conflict with the need for compact designs.
   * Cost: Advanced energy storage systems, such as hydrogen or SMES, can be costly.
-  * Environmental Impact: Sustainable energy storage solutions are critical to minimizing the ecological footprint of IoT systems.
+  * Environmental Impact: Sustainable energy storage solutions are critical to minimising the ecological footprint of IoT systems.
   * Reliability: Ensuring consistent performance over long periods, especially in critical IoT applications.
-Energy storage systems are pivotal in enabling reliable, efficient, and sustainable IoT operations. These technologies, from small-scale batteries in sensors to large-scale mechanical systems in data centres, ensure that IoT infrastructures can function even without a direct power supply. By leveraging diverse storage options and optimizing for specific use cases, IoT designers can meet the growing demands of connected ecosystems while addressing environmental and operational challenges.
+Energy storage systems are pivotal in enabling reliable, efficient, and sustainable IoT operations. These technologies, from small-scale batteries in sensors to large-scale mechanical systems in data centres, ensure that IoT infrastructures can function even without a direct power supply. IoT designers can meet the growing demands of connected ecosystems while addressing environmental and operational challenges by leveraging diverse storage options and optimising for specific use cases.
-=====Energy harvesting systems=====
+=====Energy Harvesting Systems=====
 To deal with limitations of energy storage systems such as the limited lifetime (the time from when an IoT device is deployed to when all the energy stored in its energy storage system is depleted or consumed), maintenance complexity, and scalability, energy harvesting systems are incorporated into IoT systems to harvest energy from the environment. The energy can be harvested from the ambient environment (energy sources naturally present in the immediate environment of the device, e.g., solar, wind, thermal, radiofrequency energy sources) or from external sources (the source of energy is from external systems, e.g., mechanical or human body) and then converted into electrical energy to power IoT devices or storage in an energy storage system for later usage.
-Energy harvesting is capturing energy from the ambient environment or external energy sources and then converting it to electrical energy, which is used to supply the IoT systems or stored for later usage. An energy harvesting system converts energy from an unusable form to useful electrical energy, which is then used to power the IoT devices or stored for later usage.
-==== Energy harvesting from ambient energy sources ====
+==== Energy Harvesting from Ambient Energy Sources ====
-The energy can be harvested from ambient sources (environmental energy sources) such as solar and photovoltaic, Radio Frequency (RF), flow (wind and hydro energy sources), and thermal energy sources. Ambient energy harvesting is the process of capturing energy from the immediate environment of the device (ambient energy sources) and then converting it into electrical energy to power IoT devices.  Each energy source has unique characteristics that make it suitable for specific IoT applications, providing tailored solutions to power devices based on their requirements. The ambient energy harvesting systems that can be used to harvest energy to power IoT devices, access points, fog nodes or cloud data centres include:
+The energy can be harvested from ambient sources (environmental energy sources) such as solar and photovoltaic, Radio Frequency (RF), flow (wind and hydro energy sources), and thermal energy sources. Ambient energy harvesting is the process of capturing energy from the immediate environment of the device (ambient energy sources) and then converting it into electrical energy to power IoT devices. Each energy source has unique characteristics that make it suitable for specific IoT applications, providing tailored solutions to power devices based on their requirements. The ambient energy harvesting systems that can be used to harvest energy to power IoT devices, access points, fog nodes or cloud data centres include:
 ** 1. Solar and Photovoltaic Energy Harvesting**
@@ Line 118: / Line 117: @@
 **Process:** Photovoltaic (PV) cells, composed of semiconductor materials, absorb photons from light. This absorption excites electrons, generating an electric current that powers IoT devices or charges energy storage systems.
-**Applications**
+**Applications:**
   * Outdoor IoT devices: Environmental sensors, agricultural IoT systems, and smart city deployments (e.g., solar-powered streetlights or traffic systems).
   * Indoor IoT systems: Energy-efficient smart home devices like automated blinds or temperature controllers.
-**Advantages**
+**Advantages:**
   * Solar energy is abundant, renewable, and widely available.
   * Photovoltaic cells can be scaled to suit various device sizes and energy needs.
-**Challenges**
+**Challenges:**
   * Performance depends on light availability, weather conditions, and shading.
@@ Line 137: / Line 136: @@
 **Source:** RF energy is emitted by various wireless communication systems such as Wi-Fi routers, mobile networks, and television transmitters.
-**Process:** RF energy is captured using specialized antennas and rectified to produce usable electrical power. Depending on the application, these systems can operate over a wide range of frequencies.
+**Process:** RF energy is captured using specialised antennas and rectified to produce usable electrical power. Depending on the application, these systems can operate over various frequencies.
-**Applications**
+**Applications:** Low-power IoT devices: Wearable sensors, asset trackers, and remote controllers in urban and indoor environments where RF signals are prevalent.
-Low-power IoT devices: Wearable sensors, asset trackers, and remote controllers in urban and indoor environments where RF signals are prevalent.
+**Advantages:**
-**Advantages**
+  * Utilises an omnipresent energy source in populated areas.
-  * Utilizes an omnipresent energy source in populated areas.
   * Offers a continuous power supply in environments with dense RF activity.
-**Challenges**
+**Challenges:**
   * Energy output is relatively low and insufficient for high-power devices.
@@ Line 155: / Line 152: @@
 **3. Flow Energy Harvesting**
-Source: Energy from the movement of air (wind) or water (hydro) is captured and converted into electrical energy.
+**Source:** Energy from the movement of air (wind) or water (hydro) is captured and converted into electrical energy.
 **Process:**
@@ Line 164: / Line 161: @@
 **Applications:** Remote IoT devices in areas with consistent air or water flow, such as wind-powered weather stations or hydro-powered sensors in smart water management systems.
-**Advantages**
+**Advantages:**
   * Renewable and highly scalable for large and small IoT deployments.
   * Provides a sustainable energy source in specific geographic locations.
-**Challenges**
+**Challenges:**
   * Requires consistent flow availability and favourable conditions for effective energy generation.
@@ Line 180: / Line 177: @@
 **Process:** Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) use the Seebeck effect, where a voltage is generated due to a temperature gradient across a material, to convert heat into electrical energy.
-**Applications**
+**Applications:**
   * Industrial IoT systems: Waste heat recovery from factories or power plants.
@@ Line 186: / Line 183: @@
   * Wearables: Powering smartwatches or fitness trackers using body heat.
-**Advantages**
+**Advantages:**
-  * Utilizes existing waste energy, improving overall energy efficiency.
+  * Utilises existing waste energy, improving overall energy efficiency.
   * Ideal for applications with constant heat sources.
-**Challenges**
+**Challenges:**
   * Limited conversion efficiency.
@@ Line 202: / Line 199: @@
 **Process:** Piezoelectric or acoustic materials capture sound vibrations and convert them into electrical energy.
-**Applications**
+**Applications:**
   * Urban IoT devices in noisy environments.
   * Sensors in factories or other high-decibel areas.
-**Advantages**
+**Advantages:**
   * Exploits previously untapped sound energy.
   * Can be deployed in areas with persistent noise.
-**Challenges**
+**Challenges:**
   * Low energy output.
@@ Line 228: / Line 225: @@
 **Process:** Devices with piezoelectric or electromagnetic materials capture vibrational energy and convert it to electrical energy.
-**Applications**
+**Applications:**
   * Monitoring industrial machinery health.
   * Powering IoT sensors on vehicles or railways.
-**Advantages**
+**Advantages:**
-  * Utilizes existing mechanical energy.
+  * Utilises existing mechanical energy.
   * Ideal for environments with continuous movement.
@@ Line 246: / Line 243: @@
 **Process:** Piezoelectric materials produce electrical charges when subjected to stress or strain.
-**Applications**
+**Applications:**
   * Medical sensors in wearable devices.
@@ Line 255: / Line 252: @@
 **Challenges:** Limited applications outside specific industries.
+==== Energy Harvesting from Human Body Sources ====
-=== Energy Harvesting from Human Body Sources ===
 The human body is a valuable energy source, especially for wearable and implantable IoT devices.
@@ Line 266: / Line 262: @@
 **Process:** Kinetic systems convert movement into electrical energy, which can power wearables or charge onboard batteries.
-**Applications**
+**Applications:**
   * Smart fitness trackers.
   * IoT-enabled medical monitoring devices.
-**Advantages**: Eliminates external charging needs.
+**Advantages:** Eliminates external charging needs.
 **Challenges:** Energy generation depends on user activity levels.
@@ Line 279: / Line 275: @@
 **Source:** Body heat, biochemical reactions, or other physiological processes.
-**Process**
+**Process:**
   * Thermal: Converts body heat into power using thermoelectric generators.
   * Chemical: Biofuel cells harness energy from biochemical reactions.
-**Applications**
+**Applications:**
   * Implantable medical devices like pacemakers.
   * Continuous health monitoring systems.
-**Advantages**
+**Advantages:**
   * Supports self-sustaining devices.
-  * Minimizes maintenance for medical applications.
+  * Minimises maintenance for medical applications.
-**Challenges**:  Requires advanced materials for efficient energy conversion.
+**Challenges:**  Requires advanced materials for efficient energy conversion.
 ==== Hybrid Energy Harvesting Systems ====
-Hybrid systems combine multiple energy sources to ensure reliability and maximize efficiency. They are instrumental in scenarios where environmental conditions vary unpredictably.
+Hybrid systems combine multiple energy sources to ensure reliability and maximise efficiency. They are instrumental in scenarios where environmental conditions vary unpredictably.
-**Advantages**
+**Advantages:**
   * Reliable energy supply from complementary sources.
   * Improved energy generation and storage flexibility.
-**Challenges**
+**Challenges:**
   * Complex integration of different energy harvesting mechanisms.

en/iot-reloaded/energy_sources_for_iot_systems.1733485432.txt.gz · Last modified: 2024/12/06 11:43 by ktokarz