Hybrid energy harvesting for autonomous sensors in building automation

Abstract

For researches on energy harvesting in building automation two independent power sources have been examined. Therefor long term power profiles have been analysed, which show the available energy per transducer over time. These profiles have been investigated according to their ability to supply an energy autonomous system and to improve the availability and reliability of operation. To reduce the failing time of a sensor system by using two independent sources within a hybrid energy harvesting supply, is one of the general aims for this contribution. An energy management circuit has been developed and compared to the state of art solution of combining different energy sources. The additional losses of this method have been simulated. This contribution tends on a method to improve the reliability of an energy autonomous system using two different and independent energy sources and an optimized combination of both within an adapted energy management strategy.