Energy Consumption & Lifetime Analysis in Cluster-Based Wireless Sensor Networks for Periodic Monitoring Applications

Clustering is one of the most popular approaches used in wireless sensor networks to conserve energy and increase node as well as network lifetime. LEACH is among the most popular clustering protocols proposed for wireless sensor networks. In this paper we have carried out network lifetime and energy consumption analysis for cluster-based wireless sensor networks based upon LEACH protocol for periodic monitoring applications. Simulation results based upon this protocol identify some important factors that induce unbalanced energy consumption among sensor nodes and hence affect the network lifetime when compared with the results obtained from the analytical model of this protocol. This highlights the need for an adaptive clustering protocol that can increase the network lifetime by further balancing the energy consumption among sensor nodes. Paper concludes with some recommendations for such protocol.