About the Project

The proposal seeks to design and build an energy-efficient construction response data logging and transmission system, which will include a piezoelectric sensor, an electric energy storage circuit, a rechargeable battery and a wireless data transmission subsystem. The energy autonomy of this system makes it ideal for installation in load-bearing structures that are inaccessible.

This proposal is supported by two of the country's leading laboratories in the field of Mechatronics and Piezoelectric Applications with highly specialized and specialized companies in the field of developing microelectronic devices for wireless communication and wind park management

The last five years have been technologically marked by the rapid evolution of the Internet of Things. In this context, sensors are integrated into structures and provide information on their operation. This information improves the level of safety with regard to the capacity of the structure to carry the loads imposed. However, these sensors, as well as the subsystems used to transmit the measured signal, require battery power. Batteries need to be renewed or recharged at regular intervals, which requires immediate access to them. The object of the project is the design and construction of an energy-efficient structural response data logging and transmission system (ENAUSI), which can operate without requiring access. The system will include a piezoelectric sensor, a power storage circuit, a rechargeable battery and a wireless data transmission subsystem. Its energy autonomy results from the exploitation of mechanical deformation energy, which is converted into electrical to piezoelectric sensor during dynamic stress.The EnAC system will therefore be able to operate without having to change its battery, which makes it ideal for installation in structures that are inaccessible. Therefore, in order to highlight the advantages of the system, the prototype that will be built as part of the project will be mounted on a wind turbine blade. The operation of the EnAC system can be summarized as follows: The piezoelectric sensor, in addition to recording the oscillation of the structure, converts mechanical energy into electrical energy by means of electrical deformation coupling. The electrical voltage generated by the sensor leads to an electrical circuit, where it is rectified and stored using a properly designed primary electronic circuit. When the stored power reaches a specified value, it closes a secondary circuit which charges the battery. Battery power is used to power the wireless data transmission subsystem. The design of such a system must meet a wide range of challenges. The energy to be stored should at least cover the needs of the transmission subsystem.Given the low oscillation frequency of the blade, the efficient conversion of energy into the piezoelectric sensor presupposes its excitation close to its own frequencies and with large distortions to the geometric nonlinear limits. The electrical circuit should have as little power loss as possible and be designed to store energy over a wide range of oscillating amplitudes. Consequently, both modeling and implementation of the CSCEs require a high level of theoretical training and technological expertise, which is covered by the project partners.

The main goals of the project are:

• Achieve energy autonomy for a wide range of stimuli

• Design of efficient mechanical subsystem for stimulation of piezoelectric sensors

• Storing and transmitting information about fatigue of the blade

• Minimize system weight

• Optimization of its position on the flap

• Prototype building and successful implementation

An additional objective is the system that will be able to be expanded with minor modifications to a wide range of structures, such as bridges, aeronautics, toxic environments etc. Acquiring know-how from partners in such an emerging field of research and technology is an important prerequisite for future expansion. and developing partnerships.

The main result of the project is the prototype of an autonomous energy measuring and data transmission system with pilot application on a wind turbine blade. The main intention of the partners is to make the ESAU system extensible to other applications and to be used in other inaccessible locations (bridges, pillars, closed sections) and in toxic environments. Additional areas of application for the proposed system are aeronautics / aerospace and robotics. In any case, the project partners' goal is for the pilot system to be an early stage of mass product development. The proposed project involves the development of cutting-edge technologies in the design and implementation of an electromechanical system connected to a microelectronic storage circuit and wireless transmission. State-of-the-art technologies are: Exploiting the ability of piezoelectricians to generate increased electrical power when exposed to non-linear displacements.

According to previous research results by the ETMT research team, the operation of piezoelectric sensors under large distortions greatly increases their ability to convert mechanical energy into electricity. However, it is a feature of them that requires further investigation to determine the ideal operating ranges for high performance and protection of the piezoelectric device. The development of a suitable mechanical device capable of maximizing electricity production from mechanical work. Energy efficiency of the system: The electromechanical system will be designed with the highest possible output of piezoelectric sensors at a reasonable cost. Minimum power electronics will be selected when designing the electronic circuitry for energy storage and wireless metering transmission. System Optimization: Taking into account measurements from the base prototype, the process of designing the final prototype involves system optimization. The optimization will focus primarily on the energy produced and secondarily on the weight and structure of the electronic circuits. With regard to the pilot implementation of the energy autonomous system it should be emphasized that by installing it in a moving part a wind turbine can achieve the following characteristics: 1. Lower costs on expensive slip ring systems which require special and time-consuming maintenance 2.Lower regular times maintenance (blades, gearboxes, main shafts) that reduce overall maintenance costs 3. Accurate knowledge of blade fatigue and better organization of its scheduled maintenance 4. Avoid failure fin (high cost) due to fatigue Regarding innovation primer noted that there are similar systems, either independently or energy using batteries. All companies use slip ring units