PEM fuel cells as a power source for wireless sensor networks

Abstract

Wireless sensor networks are considered to be one of the key technologies of 21st century. A wireless sensor network consists of spatially distributed sensors used to monitor physical and environmental conditions. The application of wireless sensor networks includes battle field surveillance, industrial process monitoring, environmental pollution monitoring etc. A wireless sensor network generally consists of tens/hundreds of sensor nodes. Each sensor network node consists of a radio transceiver with an antenna, a microcontroller, an electronic circuit for interfacing with the sensors and an energy source. A microcontroller require 1.8mW, transceiver require 67 mW while transmitting and 60 mW while receiving and sensing will require 1.8 mW. Total power needed will come around 75 mW. Here a compact PEM fuel cell is designed which can meet the above power requirements and a typical power generation system is proposed.