Design of hydro electromagnetic and piezoelectric energy harvesters for a smart water meter system

摘要

We designed hydro electromagnetic and piezoelectric energy harvesters to power a smart water meter system. Usually, in water pipes, a water meter is necessary for checking water flow conditions within the pipe. However, supplying electrical energy to the water meter is a critical problem. The use of batteries or a direct connection to a power socket for this purpose causes other problems such as requiring regular replacement of the batteries and potential electric shock caused by water leakages. Furthermore, flow rate is checked at a specific location, typically the basement of the building. By constructing a smart water meter system which is self-powered by the energy harvesters and can transmit flow rate data wirelessly, time and effort could be saved. In addition, the proposed smart water meter system can detect water leakages in the pipes.