“Our work demonstrates a simple and inexpensive approach to electromagnetic power harvesting,”
Using inexpensive materials configured and tuned to capture microwave signals, researchers at Duke University’s Pratt School of Engineering have designed a power-harvesting device with efficiency similar to that of modern solar panels.
The device wirelessly converts the microwave signal to direct current voltage capable of recharging a cell phone battery or other small electronic device, according to a report appearing in the journal Applied Physics Letters in December 2013. (It is now available online.)
It operates on a similar principle to solar panels, which convert light energy into electrical current. But this versatile energy harvester could be tuned to harvest the signal from other energy sources, including satellite signals, sound signals or Wi-Fi signals, the researchers say.
The key to the power harvester lies in its application of metamaterials, engineered structures that can capture various forms of wave energy and tune them for useful applications.
Undergraduate engineering student Allen Hawkes, working with graduate student Alexander Katko and lead investigator Steven Cummer, professor of electrical and computer engineering, designed an electrical circuit capable of harvesting microwaves.
They used a series of five fiberglass and copper energy conductors wired together on a circuit board to convert microwaves into 7.3V of electrical energy. By comparison, Universal Serial Bus (USB) chargers for small electronic devices provide about 5V of power.
“We were aiming for the highest energy efficiency we could achieve,” said Hawkes. “We had been getting energy efficiency around 6 to 10 percent, but with this design we were able to dramatically improve energy conversion to 37 percent, which is comparable to what is achieved in solar cells.”
“It’s possible to use this design for a lot of different frequencies and types of energy, including vibration and sound energy harvesting,” Katko said. “Until now, a lot of work with metamaterials has been theoretical. We are showing that with a little work, these materials can be useful for consumer applications.”
For instance, a metamaterial coating could be applied to the ceiling of a room to redirect and recover a Wi-Fi signal that would otherwise be lost, Katko said. Another application could be to improve the energy efficiency of appliances by wirelessly recovering power that is now lost during use.
“The properties of metamaterials allow for design flexibility not possible with ordinary devices like antennas,” said Katko. “When traditional antennas are close to each other in space they talk to each other and interfere with each other’s operation. The design process used to create our metamaterial array takes these effects into account, allowing the cells to work together.”
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Microwave energy harvesting
- Best microwaves in 2024
In addition, the best microwave needs to be powerful enough to heat food evenly without leaving hot or cold parts. With so many different types available, it can be tricky to know which model is ...
- Beyond equilibrium: Scientists investigate Floquet Fermi liquids
Researchers from Germany and Singapore have studied a non-equilibrium state of Fermi liquids called the Floquet Fermi liquid (FFL), which is formed when Fermi liquids are subjected to a periodic ...
- How to Clean a Microwave
She used 72 bags of popcorn to find the best microwave (and set the office on fire only once). Jessica Samson, cleaning expert and director of national branding with a 40-year-old national ...
- Can you microwave glass? Plus plastic, foil, paper and more
They make become warm during heating or cooking because of heat transfer from the food, but the containers themselves should not themselves absorb microwave energy. However, even if fine bone china is ...
- The 5 best microwaves of 2024, tested and reviewed
How microwaves work "Generally speaking, the process of putting energy into something is pretty much how we heat and cook all food, it just depends on how we do it (such as on the stove ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Microwave energy harvesting
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Microwave energy harvesting” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Energy harvesting
- Engineers develop innovative battery technology that could change the future of remote devices: 'An integrated device that could harvest ambient thermal energy'
With simple increases and decreases in temperature, the new battery can generate enough charge for practical applications in many industries. Engineers develop innovative battery technology that could ...
- What’s that?…A fuel cell that harvests energy from…dirt?
A soil microbial fuel cell where microbes in dirt could power applications which are literally “in the field”.
- Saudi Arabia Energy Harvesting System Market Focus Group Alchemy Transforming Conversations into Strategic Gold
Request To Download Free Sample of This Strategic Report @ https://reportocean.com/industry-verticals/sample-request?report_id=SA1478 The report covers market ...
- This salt battery harvests osmotic energy where the river meets the sea
Estuaries -- where freshwater rivers meet the salty sea -- are great locations for birdwatching and kayaking. In these areas, waters containing different salt concentrations mix and may be sources of ...
- Revolutionizing Renewable Energy: Innovative Salt Battery Efficiently Harvests Osmotic Power
A new semipermeable membrane doubles the osmotic energy output in estuaries, showing potential for sustainable power generation. Estuaries — where freshwater rivers meet the salty sea — are great ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Energy harvesting
[google_news title=”” keyword=”energy harvesting” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]