Periodic Reporting for period 1 - WiPASS (Wireless Power for Autonomous Sensor Systems)
Período documentado: 2019-04-01 hasta 2021-03-31
WiPASS project was aimed at developing an innovative and disruptive Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) technology exploiting a low-frequency variable magnetic field to send electric power over the air between an emitter and receivers based on an electromechanical system. This power is then used to supply electronic functions such as sensors and actuators, with various applications including health, industry, home automation,….
Compared to other WPT technologies, the one proposed in WiPASS operates at very lower frequencies enabling to reach higher transmission distances with better penetration in conductive media.
The Researcher, Nicolas Garraud, developed first Proofs of Concept of this technology during his PhD thesis at the University of Florida. WiPass was aimed at further developing and optimizing this technology, to solve its limitations and to study its commercial relevance. The Research was carried out in CEA-LETI (France) under the supervision of Sebastien Boisseau.
The specificity of the magnetodynamic WPT technology is its low frequency of operation, which is typically less than 1 kHz and with the following advantages:
• They are safe around humans and in presence of metallic objects, allowing transfer in everyday environments,
• Wireless Power Transfer is possible through conducting media, allowing transfer in isolated environments.
Low-frequency time-varying magnetic fields dissipate very little energy in human tissues, allowing higher field amplitude than for their high-frequency counterparts. This makes low-frequency WPT suitable for safely charging wearables or biomedical implants for instance.
Moreover, low-frequency fields create very low Eddy currents and dissipate limited energy in metallic objects, contrary to high-frequency solutions. This eliminates the risk of fire hazard found in high-frequency technologies such as the ones using the Qi protocol requiring the system to stop if nearby conducting objects are detected. Also, low-frequency magnetic fields are less impeded by conductive media, which is suitable for charging systems through metal walls or in seawater.
Finally, low-frequency WPT technologies create very few electromagnetic interferences, which is an advantage for critical systems.
The overall objectives of WiPass project were to:
• Improve the WPT distance by using advanced models in mechanics and electromagnetism (Finite Elements) and by developing innovative mechanical (nonlinear springs) and electromagnetic (iron cores) architectures. The target is a range of 50cm-1 m, with a transmitter sending powers in agreement with European Union norms.
• Develop an efficient Power Management Circuit to supply sensors, microcontrollers and RF protocols from received power and a validation of the complete Electrodynamic Wireless Power Transfer chain.
• Analyze the strengths and opportunities (SWOT) with regards to the state of the art and the industrial pre-feasibility analysis (cost / market).
Compared to other WPT technologies, the one proposed in WiPASS operates at very lower frequencies enabling to reach higher transmission distances with better penetration in conductive media.
The Researcher, Nicolas Garraud, developed first Proofs of Concept of this technology during his PhD thesis at the University of Florida. WiPass was aimed at further developing and optimizing this technology, to solve its limitations and to study its commercial relevance. The Research was carried out in CEA-LETI (France) under the supervision of Sebastien Boisseau.
The specificity of the magnetodynamic WPT technology is its low frequency of operation, which is typically less than 1 kHz and with the following advantages:
• They are safe around humans and in presence of metallic objects, allowing transfer in everyday environments,
• Wireless Power Transfer is possible through conducting media, allowing transfer in isolated environments.
Low-frequency time-varying magnetic fields dissipate very little energy in human tissues, allowing higher field amplitude than for their high-frequency counterparts. This makes low-frequency WPT suitable for safely charging wearables or biomedical implants for instance.
Moreover, low-frequency fields create very low Eddy currents and dissipate limited energy in metallic objects, contrary to high-frequency solutions. This eliminates the risk of fire hazard found in high-frequency technologies such as the ones using the Qi protocol requiring the system to stop if nearby conducting objects are detected. Also, low-frequency magnetic fields are less impeded by conductive media, which is suitable for charging systems through metal walls or in seawater.
Finally, low-frequency WPT technologies create very few electromagnetic interferences, which is an advantage for critical systems.
The overall objectives of WiPass project were to:
• Improve the WPT distance by using advanced models in mechanics and electromagnetism (Finite Elements) and by developing innovative mechanical (nonlinear springs) and electromagnetic (iron cores) architectures. The target is a range of 50cm-1 m, with a transmitter sending powers in agreement with European Union norms.
• Develop an efficient Power Management Circuit to supply sensors, microcontrollers and RF protocols from received power and a validation of the complete Electrodynamic Wireless Power Transfer chain.
• Analyze the strengths and opportunities (SWOT) with regards to the state of the art and the industrial pre-feasibility analysis (cost / market).
Advanced modelling and optimizations have been carried out and have led to the manufacturing of electrodynamic wireless power transfer prototypes that have been characterized. This research have enabled to identify new receiver topologies involving highly-nonlinear behaviors that have been patented, and to deeply improve the performances of the first prototypes developed at the University of Florida.
All critical objectives of the project have actually been reached and we have in particular shown:
(i) a large improvement of power densities (multiplied by 13 compared to first proofs of concept thanks to advanced modelling and optimizations)
(ii) an increase of the transmission distance (30cm reached)
(iii) an improvement of the electrodynamic Wireless Power Transfer technology robustness, and in particular to high electromagnetic fields
(iv) the demonstration of wireless power transfer through metal walls, which is a high benefit of this technology
(v) the development of highly-nonlinear energy receivers able to work at very low frequencies (<<1Hz) with industrial applications in Energy Harvesting and Wireless Power Transfer.
Finally, an in-depth analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the electrodynamic Wireless Power Transfer technology has been conducted to identify markets and industrial applications. The highly-nonlinear receivers are of high interest for several industrial partners in home automation, industrial equipment monitoring (rotating shafts), water or gas consumption monitoring and for the economy of the functionality.
All critical objectives of the project have actually been reached and we have in particular shown:
(i) a large improvement of power densities (multiplied by 13 compared to first proofs of concept thanks to advanced modelling and optimizations)
(ii) an increase of the transmission distance (30cm reached)
(iii) an improvement of the electrodynamic Wireless Power Transfer technology robustness, and in particular to high electromagnetic fields
(iv) the demonstration of wireless power transfer through metal walls, which is a high benefit of this technology
(v) the development of highly-nonlinear energy receivers able to work at very low frequencies (<<1Hz) with industrial applications in Energy Harvesting and Wireless Power Transfer.
Finally, an in-depth analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the electrodynamic Wireless Power Transfer technology has been conducted to identify markets and industrial applications. The highly-nonlinear receivers are of high interest for several industrial partners in home automation, industrial equipment monitoring (rotating shafts), water or gas consumption monitoring and for the economy of the functionality.
The research conducted in Wipass contributed to the state of the art in 3 aspects:
- An increase of the transmission distance with electrodynamic WPT receivers functioning in the resonant mode
- An increase of the electrodynamic WPT receivers robustness
- The development of ultra-low frequency wireless power transfer using a highly-nonlinear energy receiver
Some proofs of concept have reached a TRL4 level and can be proposed to industrial partners to be included in their products. The technology will continue to be developed through industrial research projects as its maturity is already sufficient. An industrial transfer seems feasible within 5 years. The main applications we will target will be:
- Health, with the power supply of biomedical implants
- Home automation, to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings by deploying autonomous sensors supplied by this technology
- Industry, with the monitoring of industrial equipment with autonomous sensors (predictive maintenance)
- The economy of functionality to reduce the carbon footprint of goods, thanks to autonomous sensors supplied by the technological bricks developed in WiPass project.
- An increase of the transmission distance with electrodynamic WPT receivers functioning in the resonant mode
- An increase of the electrodynamic WPT receivers robustness
- The development of ultra-low frequency wireless power transfer using a highly-nonlinear energy receiver
Some proofs of concept have reached a TRL4 level and can be proposed to industrial partners to be included in their products. The technology will continue to be developed through industrial research projects as its maturity is already sufficient. An industrial transfer seems feasible within 5 years. The main applications we will target will be:
- Health, with the power supply of biomedical implants
- Home automation, to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings by deploying autonomous sensors supplied by this technology
- Industry, with the monitoring of industrial equipment with autonomous sensors (predictive maintenance)
- The economy of functionality to reduce the carbon footprint of goods, thanks to autonomous sensors supplied by the technological bricks developed in WiPass project.