Fluidic energy transducer for energy-independent sensors

Licensing Opportunity, Development Opportunity

Researchers in the Fraunhofer Technology Development Group, have devised a method for converting kinetic energy from air or water into electricity. This would enable sensors to be energy independent. The fluidic energy transducer is on display at the Fraunhofer stand, number 634 in Hall B2 at the electronica trade fair in Munich next week.

Air compression systems are an integral part of many manufacturing operations. If a leak occurs anywhere in the system, the air pressure drops and production comes to a halt until the source of failure has been found. Sensors constantly monitor the pressure in order to keep costly faults to a minimum.

At present, these sensors are either battery powered or connected up to the mains wiring. This often makes it very difficult or even impossible to install sensors in places that are hard to reach. “Our system is eminently suitable for sensors in pneumatic plants, as we can convert the kinetic energy from air or water into electricity,” explains researcher José Israel Ramirez.

The fluidic energy transducer generates electricity in the microwatt or milliwatt range, sufficient to supply embedded sensors with enough energy to read out and transmit data.

The principles behind the transducer can be applied to any system in which a fluid or a gas is guided through a fixed geometry, in supply networks or in medical engineering, for example.