TE-Power NODE
Self-Sufficient
Wireless Sensor System
Thermoharvesting Explorer
TE-Power NODE
Smart Thermoharvesting
Self-powered, Wireless Sensor Node & Thermoharvesting Explorer
1. General Description
Micropelt’s energy harvesting technology is capable of replacing a
battery-based energy supply with infinite thermoharvesting that
feeds on local excess heat. Benefits of this type of power supply
are: High reliability and low environmental impact through the
absence of battery chemistry, virtually service-free operation, true
wireless installation.
Gross
∆T
[°C]
(ambient to heat source)
35
75
mAh per year
3,628
21,207
Equivalent number
of AA type batteries
2-4
11-20
M
D7
G-
P
51
TE-Power
NO D E
Micropelt offers various evaluation kits to help determine the power budget available
through thermoharvesting:
Evaluation Kit Overview
Evaluation Kit
Overview
TE-Power NODE
(this document)
TE-Power PLUS
TE-Power ONE
Direct
Power
Module
DPM
DC
Booster
Module
DBM
Plug-On Modules *
Power
Application
Conditioning Interface
Module
Module
PCM
AIM
Wireless
Sensor
Module
WSM
G
TE
Other *
USB Radio TE-Power
Receiver
SCOPE
Description
Wireless 2,4 GHZ temp. sensing
system with power management
DC-boosted variable output
voltage (1.6 - 5.0 V)
Direct TEG output power with
temp. sensor
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
√
* individual modules available on request
The TE-Power NODE kit consists of an alumi-
num heat spreader (63 x 30mm, 2.48” x 1.18”)
that carries one MPG-D751 thermoelectric
generator (TEG). The DC Booster Module con-
verts the thermo-voltage from the generator
to 2.4 V, buffered by a 100 µF reservoir ca-
pacitor. This in turn supplies the Wireless Sen-
sor Module which is based on Texas Instru-
ment’s (TI) ultra-low power technology.
A temperature difference as little as 10 °C of
‘gross’
ΔT
between target surface and ambient
air is sufficient for the TE-Power NODE to
transmit 13 bytes worth of information once every second. A computer reads the data through a USB radio re-
ceiver. On the PC, the TE-Power SCOPE application software provides a convenient user interface which clearly
informs about harvesting results. The software displays current temperatures and voltages. Beyond this it is capa-
ble of simulating the charge and subsequent discharge of an energy reservoir.
www.micropelt.com | phone +49 761 156 337 0 | info@micropelt.com
0039DSTPN75x0210v3e |
Page 2
TE-Power NODE
Smart Thermoharvesting
Self-powered, Wireless Sensor Node & Thermoharvesting Explorer
1.1 Features & Benefits of the TE-Power NODE Kit
•
•
•
•
•
•
High voltage micro-thermogenerator MPG-D751 with best
thermo-electric efficiency starting from low DT
Modular layout for flexible exploration of all harvesting
dimensions and remote system aspects
Wireless module with additional digital sensor interfaces
and re-programming option
Wireless operation facilitates fast and flexible temperature
exploration and power budgeting
TE-Power SCOPE evaluation software for quick and easy
assessment and simulation
Optional add-on modules facilitate test-driving of
target application
1.2 Applications
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN)
Industrial Process Monitoring
Condition Monitoring
Intelligent Data Loggers
Automated Meter Reading (AMR)
Building Automation
and HVAC
Energy Monitoring and Control
Triggering &
Powerless Switching
Copyright 2010@gizmo| bravajulia| marafona| yanj| jolin| yobidaba images from www.bigstockphotos.com | 2007/2008@www.aboutpixel.com | 2009@www.istockphoto.com
www.micropelt.com | phone +49 761 156 337 0 | info@micropelt.com
0039DSTPN75x0210v3e |
Page 3
TE-Power NODE
Smart Thermoharvesting
Self-powered, Wireless Sensor Node & Thermoharvesting Explorer
2. System Overview
2.1 Kit Components
Power
Conditioning
Module
Direct
Power
Module
DC Booster
Module
Fig. 1b -
USB Radio Receiver
catches transmissions of
Wireless Sensor Module
Customized
Capacitor
Interface
Voltage
Limit
Adjust
I²C Interface
Fig. 1a - 2.4 GHz
Wireless
Sensor Module;
incl.
TI
MCU
MSP430F2274
and
radio
CC2500.
Auxiliary I²C digital inputs
and programming inter-
faces on-board.
Two mounting holes (M2.5 threaded)
Fig. 2 -
Power Modules
•
Direct Power: TEG direct
output &
ΔT
sensing
•
DC Booster: 1.6 … 5 V
•
Power Conditioning: 2.4 V
Fig. 3 -
Application Interface Module
links custom applications to the TE-Power Base assembly
2 x M2.5
4 x M1.6 tapped
Sockets for Wireless Sensor Module,
Application Interface Module or
Custom Application
blind hole for
heatsink attachment
Sockets for
Direct Power,
DC Booster
and Power
Conditioning
Modules
Pt100
TMP102
4 permanent
magnets
tapped
through-holes
Fig. 5 -
TE-Power Base
assembly with
Fig. 4 -
MPG-D751
thermoelectric
generator chip mounted on Al heat
spreader along with digital TMP102
and analog Pt100 temperature
sensors.
heatsink adaptor and routing PCB.
Module interfaces and TEG polarity-
inverting DIP switches.
Fig. 6 - Bottom of TE-Power
Base assembly with perma-
nent magnets and tapped
mounting holes for easy
attachment to surfaces and
adaptors.
www.micropelt.com | phone +49 761 156 337 0 | info@micropelt.com
0039DSTPN75x0210v3e |
Page 4
TE-Power NODE
Smart Thermoharvesting
Self-powered, Wireless Sensor Node & Thermoharvesting Explorer
2.2 Power Output & Conditioning
Energy harvesting using a thermoelectric generator (TEG) is ideal
for low duty cycle applications. The raw TEG output is converted to
a constant voltage which directly supplies the system’s sleep power
consumption. Surplus power is stored in a capacitor or recharge-
able battery for use during the load’s active cycle. The following
power supply modules are compatible with the TE-Power NODE:
Level 1: Direct Power Module for external power conditioning.
TEG output voltage increases with
∆T.
Module is part of kit.
Volt
U
max
.
U
min
U
out
Power Out Characteristics
Storage capacitor voltage
Output voltage
Cold start
delay
Time
High power Low power
duty cycle duty cycle
Level 2: Voltage-adjustable ( 1.6 .. 5 V ) DC Booster Module for external power conditioning. Not part of kit.
Level 3: Voltage-regulated ( 2.4 V ) Power Conditioning Module for direct supply of application. Fitted by default.
2.3 Wireless Sensor Module
The pluggable Wireless Sensor Module is built around TI’s
MSP430 ultra-low power microcontroller (MCU) and a TI CC2500
2.4 GHz transceiver chip. Two digital temperature sensors are
connected to the MCU’s I²C interface. They are mounted close to
the thermogenerator’s hot and cold side, sensing the so-called
“net
ΔT’’
across the TEG chip. Two more I²C-compatible sensors
may be connected. A TI
ez430-RF2500
USB receiver links to a computer running the TE-Power SCOPE graphical
user interface software . Data transmission is governed by TI’s ‘Simplicity’ protocol stack, set up as unidirectional
star network. Unique transmitter address for each TE-Power NODE ensure proper data allocation. A transmission
time <1 ms avoids data collision in multi-NODE environments.
2.4 TE-Power SCOPE Graphical User Interface
TE-Power SCOPE receives and presents the samples transmitted by
the TE-Power NODE on a one-per-second basis:
•
Temperature, hot side of thermogenerator
•
Temperature, cold side of thermogenerator
•
Supply voltage before regulation
Several other values are derived from the above measurements:
•
Effective temperature difference (net
ΔT)
•
Heat flux through harvester
•
Gross harvesting power
•
Net harvesting power
•
Capacitor/battery charge current
•
Charge progress indicator
•
Charge level
•
Energy balance
When load parameters* of a target application are specified, TE-Power
SCOPE calculates average power and net energy balance.
* sleep / active power consumption, duty cycle terms
www.micropelt.com | phone +49 761 156 337 0 | info@micropelt.com
0039DSTPN75x0210v3e |
Page 5
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