DOE OSTI · 2426433
High-Temperature Wireless Sensor Platform Powered by Energy Scavenging
Abstract
This paper reports on the development of key components required for a self-powered oscillator unit designed to wirelessly transmit its signal under full insertion in high-temperature (HT) harsh-environments (HE), such as those present in power plants and industrial settings (metallurgic, oil extraction, molding, and aerospace). The oscillator employed a silicon carbide (SiC) power transistor and HT passive components on a screen-printed alumina circuit board capable of operation beyond 300 °C. The HT oscillator circuit was powered solely by in-situ energy scavenging thermoelectric generator (TEG) modules using passive cooling, eliminating the need for an external power supply or active cooling. In addition, a silicon-based external booster circuit was used to achieve the required TEG voltage regulation to test the TEG-powered HT oscillator circuit. The TEG-powered oscillator circuit was tested inside a non-metallic furnace from room temperature to over 300 °C for transmission of a wireless signal, which was detected outside the furnace at 11 ft (3.4 m). Such a wireless transmitting system powered only by in-situ TEGs, with no requirement for external power or active cooling, is very attractive for flexible, mobile stand-alone control and sensor units targeted for operation in HT HE conditions found in power plants and industrial settings.
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Winters, Shane, Thapa, Nikung, Doucette, Luke D., Kincaid, Jonathan, Cui, Qingsong, Emanetoglu, Nuri W., da Cunha, Mauricio Pereira. 2024-01-19. High-Temperature Wireless Sensor Platform Powered by Energy Scavenging. https://doi.org/10.1109/ojia.2024.3356311
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