Reciprocity‐based simulation methodology to estimate the power distribution received by electromagnetic energy harvesters. (1st April 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nikolov, Dimitar Nikolov; Boesman, Bart Gerard; Vanhee, Filip; Manolov, Emil Dimitrov; Hristov, Marin; De Craemer, Renaat; Pissoort, Davy
• Is Part Of: IET wireless sensor systems. Volume 5:Number 2(2015)
• Page Start: 106
• Page End: 113
• Publication Date: 2015-04-01
• Subjects: energy harvesting -- wireless sensor networks -- statistical distributions -- data acquisition; reciprocity‐based simulation methodology -- power distribution estimation -- electromagnetic energy harvesters -- ambient energy sources -- low‐maintenance wireless sensor networks -- ambient electromagnetic sources -- suboptimal system design -- statistical distribution; Wireless sensor networks -- Periodicals; 681.2
• DOI: 10.1049/iet-wss.2013.0140
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2043-6386

Abstract

Abstract : The capability to efficiently harvest power from ambient energy sources is a crucial element for the development of low‐maintenance wireless sensor networks. Available energy levels that can be harvested from ambient electromagnetic (EM) sources are rather low (0.1 µW/cm 2 ). Insufficient information about the available EM energy under different working conditions results in poor design decisions, leading to a sub‐optimal system design. In this study, a novel and efficient simulation methodology is developed which predicts the statistical distribution of the power harvested by an antenna when immersed in a given (statistical) EM environment. The methodology is used to quantify the impact of the antenna's orientation, location, exact geometry and so on, on the quantity of the harvested energy. The methodology is successfully applied to a realistic energy harvesting antenna in different EM environments (indoor, outdoor etc.)