Electric field energy harvesting under actual three‐phase 765 kV power transmission lines for wireless sensor node

Abstract

For the first time, under the actual three‐phase 765 kV power transmission lines, electric field energy is harvested and Zigbee‐based sensor node powered by the harvested energy is operated autonomously. A conductor tube is placed between power lines and the earth surface for electric field energy harvesting. The voltage difference between conductor tube and the earth surface is rectified and the harvested electric energy is stored in a storage capacitor. A self‐sustaining power management circuit adopting low‐power comparator with hysteresis is devised to monitor the stored energy and to operate the sensor node autonomously according to the stored energy. Experimental results under the actual three‐phase 765 kV power lines show that the data transfer period is almost inversely proportional to the square of the height of the sensor module from the earth surface. The temperature data is transmitted in every 25 s when the conductor tube is located at 4 m from the earth surface. Since the presented non‐contact energy harvesting apparatus is very simple, robust and low‐cost, it is believed that the presented technology can be widely applied to power transmission, distribution and smart grid system.

Magnetic and Electric Energy Harvesting Technologies in Power Grids: A Review

“…Rodríguez et al proposed a novel approach for optimum electric-field energy harvesting using the parasitic capacitance of medium-voltage power line insulators, and studies show the potential to obtain nearly 100 mW from a 12.7 kV power line [48,49]. S. Kang et al used a conductor tube under actual three-phase 765 kV power transmission lines to harvest electric-field energy and successfully power a Zigbee-based temperature sensor node [50]. Except for the applications on transmission lines, E. B. Pehlivanoglu et al used a metal panel against a transformer to harvest electric field energy and it is investigated with a transformer room experimental set-up.…”

A Review of Energy Harvesting Methods for Power Transmission Line Monitoring Sensors

“…Electric field is derivable from source potential only if the electric field is in static mode. Those static electric fields can be captured and harvested using a pair of parallel conductive plates of any shape [99] as shown in Figure 3.…”

“…In [28], [47], [52], [96], [99], [121]- [126] a toroidal tube made of aluminium or copper is coiled around the conductor line to harvest the electric field energy. This kind approach could scavenge up to 370mW [47], [126].…”

“…All the existing EFEH harvester types reviewed in this manuscript, excluding the harvester in [99], are either attached under the line or coiled around the cable. To install these types of harvesters requires a major power shutdown, which is typically undesirable.…”

“…An alternative solution for this problem is to locate the harvester at a distance away from the cable source. According to the model in [99], it is proved that the harvester is not necessary to be attached together to the high voltage transmission line. This harvester could produce 0.13mW even if the harvester is placed at a safe distance from the line to the ground.…”