Scavenging energy from wind-induced power transmission line vibration using an omnidirectional harvester in smart grids

Wind-induced power transmission line vibration is harmful to smart grids, and electronic devices that monitor the status of power lines require uninterrupted energy. Scavenging energy from wind-induced transmission line vibration to power these electronic devices is a feasible solution to these issues. In this study, an omnidirectional energy harvester was proposed, analyzed, fabricated, and tested. The harvester comprises a flexible rope, a one-way bearing, a three-phase direct current motor, and a spiral spring. One end of the flexible rope is attached to a power line and follows the disordered movement of the vibration, making it possible for the harvester to scavenge energy from all directions. The one-way bearing and spiral spring enable the harvester to scavenge random vibration energy. A theoretical analysis was carried out to determine the factors that would influence the energy harvester’s performance. The harvester was then fabricated and experiments were conducted. The simulation and experimental results correlated well. The maximum output voltage and output power of the harvester were 10 V (peak voltage) and 41.6 mW, respectively. The harvested energy can power a monitoring device for more than 1440 s. It can also power a temperature/humidity sensor, which can detect the status of the power line effectively. The proposed energy harvester can be used in smart grids for damping power line vibrations and powering electronic devices simultaneously.