Efficient Energy Harvesting in Wireless Sensor Networks of Smart Grid

TL;DR

This paper proposes an efficient battery recharging model for wireless sensor networks in smart grids, utilizing mobile chargers and optimal path calculation to enhance energy utilization and reduce recharge time.

Contribution

It introduces a novel model for sensor battery recharging using mobile chargers with optimized path planning to improve energy efficiency in smart grid WSNs.

Findings

Maximizes sensor battery utilization

Reduces recharge waiting time

Optimizes mobile charger path planning

Abstract

Smart grids are becoming ubiquitous in recent time. With the progress of automation in this arena, it needs to be diagnosed for better performance and less failures. There are several options for doing that but we have seen from the past research that using Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) as the diagnosis framework would be the most promising option due to its diverse benefits. Several challenges such as effect of noise, lower speed, selective node replacement, complexity of logistics, and limited battery lifetime arise while using WSN as the framework. Limited battery lifetime has become one of the most significant issues to focus on to get rid of it. This article provides a model for replenishing the battery charge of the sensor nodes of wireless sensor network. We will use the model for sensor battery recharging in an efficient way so that no nodes become out of service after a while. We will be using mobile charger for this purpose. So, there may be some scope for improving the recharge interval for the mobile charger as well. This will be satisfied using optimum path calculation for each time the charger travels to the nodes. Our main objectives are to maximize the nodes battery utilization, distribute power effectively from the energy harvester, and minimize the distance between power source and cluster head. The simulation results show that the proposed approach successfully maximizes the utilization of the nodes battery while minimizes the waiting time for the sensor nodes to get recharged from the energy harvester.