An integrated fluid flow and solar hybrid energy harvester for pipeline monitoring system

This study introduces an innovative hybrid energy harvester that combines solar and flow energy sources to power Internet of Things enabled pipeline monitoring systems. The flow energy harvesting system utilizes piezoelectric and electromagnetic transduction methods to capture energy from the fluid flow in a pipeline. A compact, circular solar cell served as a unit for harvesting solar energy. Laboratory evaluations of the flow energy harvester (FEH) show that at a flow pressure of 3.35 kPa, a flow velocity of 29.37 m/s, and a flow rate of 36.15 l/s, the harvester generates an output power of 1.543 mW. When paired with a rectifying circuit, it produces a corresponding direct current power of 1.29 mW. The solar cell is tested under various sunlight conditions, such as direct sunlight, diffused sunlight, and cloudy conditions. In direct sunlight with an irradiance level of 1310 W/m2 and a solar intensity of 181 klux, the solar unit achieves a peak output power of 36 mW at an optimal load resistance of 800 Ω. The hybrid system can recharge a power bank from 2.48 to 4.21 V within 75 min, showcasing its practical application potential. A low-power wireless sensor node for pipeline monitoring was created and effectively integrated with the energy harvester, facilitating real-time data collection and the digitalization of pipeline monitoring processes. A comparative analysis reveals that the proposed hybrid harvester surpasses existing solar and FEHs in terms of energy conversion efficiency and output power.