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| en:iot-reloaded:energy_sources_for_iot_systems [2024/12/10 21:57] – pczekalski | en:iot-reloaded:energy_sources_for_iot_systems [2025/05/13 15:15] (current) – pczekalski |
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| =====Main power===== | =====Grid power===== |
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| 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. |
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| 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. |
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| - 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. | - 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. | - 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. These batteries are 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. | -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. | -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. |
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| =====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. | 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. |
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| 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. | |
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| ==== Energy harvesting from ambient energy sources ==== | ==== Energy Harvesting from Ambient Energy Sources ==== |
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| 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: |
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| * Supports self-sustaining devices. | * Supports self-sustaining devices. |
| * Minimizes maintenance for medical applications. | * Minimises maintenance for medical applications. |
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| **Challenges:** Requires advanced materials for efficient energy conversion. | **Challenges:** Requires advanced materials for efficient energy conversion. |
