Self-Powered Autonomous Wireless Sensor Node by Using Silicon-Based 3D Thermoelectric Energy Generator for Environmental Monitoring Application

Jong-Pil Im, Jeong Hun Kim, Jae Woo Lee, Ji Yong Woo, Sol Yee Im, Yeriaron Kim, Yong-Sung Eom, Won Chul Choi, Jun Soo Kim and Seung Eon Moon
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Jong-Pil Im: ICT Creative Research Laboratory, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), Daejeon 34129, Korea
Jeong Hun Kim: ICT Creative Research Laboratory, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), Daejeon 34129, Korea
Jae Woo Lee: ICT Creative Research Laboratory, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), Daejeon 34129, Korea
Ji Yong Woo: ICT Creative Research Laboratory, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), Daejeon 34129, Korea
Sol Yee Im: ICT Creative Research Laboratory, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), Daejeon 34129, Korea
Yeriaron Kim: ICT Creative Research Laboratory, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), Daejeon 34129, Korea
Yong-Sung Eom: ICT Creative Research Laboratory, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), Daejeon 34129, Korea
Won Chul Choi: Samsung electronics, Suwon 18382, Korea
Jun Soo Kim: Material Science and Mechanical Engineering, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
Seung Eon Moon: ICT Creative Research Laboratory, Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI), Daejeon 34129, Korea

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 3, 1-17

Abstract: In this paper, we present the results of a preliminary study on the self-powered autonomous wireless sensor node by using thermoelectric energy generator based on Silicon (Si) thermoelectric legs, energy management integrated circuit (EMIC), Radio Frequency (RF) module with a temperature and humidity sensor, etc. A novel thermoelectric module structure is designed as an energy generator module, which consists of 127 pairs of Silicon legs and this module is fabricated and tested to demonstrate the feasibility of generating electrical power under the temperature gradient of 70K. EMIC has three key features besides high efficiency, which are maximum power point tracking (MPPT), cold start, and complete self-power operation. EMIC achieved a cold start voltage of 200 mV, peak efficiency of 78.7%, MPPT efficiency 99.4%, and an output power of 34 mW through only the Thermoelectric Generator (TEG) source. To assess the capability of the device as a small scale power source for internet of things (IoT) service, we also tested energy conversion and storage experiments. Finally, the proposed sensor node system which can transmit and monitor the information from the temperature and humidity sensor through the RF module in real time demonstrates the feasibility for variable applications.

Keywords: thermoelectric; energy generator; hetero-structure; Si; EMIC (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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