Design and Application of an Electromagnetic Energy Harvester for Wireless Sensor Network

Increased reliability and early detection of potential problems in all processes of electrical energy have a vital role in monitoring the situation. Sensors which sense the line data, such as power, voltage, current, line sags, temperature, and degree of icing etc. are traditionally powered by batteries. However, in recent years, by using energy harvesting methods, data of the energy transmission line can be obtained by the development of self-supplying wireless monitoring technologies. The energy needs of the wireless sensor system can be met with electromagnetic harvesters. Therefore, in this study, two harvester structures were investigated to harvest energy from the magnetic field directly on the line. Using the Ansys-Maxwell software, the magnetic field distribution on the transmission line of single C core and mutual C core harvesters was investigated. In addition, the change in voltage induced by two harvesters was investigated experimentally according to the change in line current. Preliminary tests of the designed card connected to the harvester were performed in order to obtain the data of the line. Sensor data has been successfully received.