Powering the WSN Node for Monitoring Rail Car Parameters, Using a Piezoelectric Energy Harvester

Bogdan Dziadak, Mariusz Kucharek and Jacek Starzyński
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Bogdan Dziadak: Electrical Engineering Department, Warsaw University of Technology, 00-661 Warsaw, Poland
Mariusz Kucharek: Electrical Engineering Department, Warsaw University of Technology, 00-661 Warsaw, Poland
Jacek Starzyński: Electrical Engineering Department, Warsaw University of Technology, 00-661 Warsaw, Poland

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 5, 1-18

Abstract: Monitoring of railroad wagons is important for logistical processes, but above all for safety. One of the key parameters to be monitored is the temperature of the axle box and the bearings in the bogie. The problem with monitoring these parameters is the harsh environment and lack of power supply. In our research, we present a power supply system for a WSN node monitoring the bogie parameters. Knowing the operating conditions, we built a power supply system using a piezoelectric energy harvester. The harvester consists of three piezoelectric elements placed on a double arm pendulum beam. The circuit was modeled in the Comsol Multiphysics environment and then built and tested in laboratory conditions. After confirming energy efficiency, the system was tested on a freight car bogie during an 8 h trip. At typical car vibration frequencies (4–10 Hz), the system is able to generate 73 uW. Combined with an energy buffer of 1000 mAh (3.7 V), it can power a WSN node (based on the nRF5340 chip) for 13 years of operation.

Keywords: energy harvesting; piezoelectric; power unit; freight monitoring (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: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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