Feasibility Studies of Micro Photosynthetic Power Cells as a Competitor of Photovoltaic Cells for Low and Ultra-Low Power IoT Applications

Energies

HemanthKumar Tanneru¹  Kiran Kuruvinashetti¹  Pragasen Pillay²  Muthukumaran Packirisamy²  Raghunathan Rengaswamy³ 

[1] Optical Bio-Microsystems Laboratory (OBML), Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Industrial Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H3G1M8, Canada;Power Electronics and Energy Research Group (PEER), Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H3G1M8, Canada;Systems Engineering for Natural and Artificial@ IIT Madras (SENAI), Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT Madras, Tamil Nadu 600036, India;

关键词: IoT;    ultra-low power;    low power;    bio photovoltaics;    energy harvesting;    renewable energy;    sustainable energy;    power electronics;    energy harvesting circuit design;   

DOI  :  10.3390/en12091595

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

In this work, we provide a cost comparison of micro-photosynthetic power cells (µPSC) with the well-established photovoltaic (PV) cells for ultra-low power and low power applications. We also suggest avenues for the performance improvement of µPSC. To perform cost comparison, we considered two case studies, which are development of energy systems for: (i) A typical mobile-phone battery charging (low power application) and (ii) powering a humidity sensor (ultra-low power application). For both the cases, we have elucidated the steps in designing energy systems based on PV and µPSC technologies. Based on the design, we have considered the components needed and their costs to obtain total cost for developing energy systems using both PV and µPSC technologies. Currently, µPSCs based energy systems are costlier compared to their PV counterparts. We have provided the avenues for improving µPSC performance, niche application areas, and aspects in which µPSCs are comparable to PV cells. With a huge potential to develop low-cost and high performing technologies, this emerging technology can share the demand on PV technologies for ultra-low power applications.

【 授权许可】

Unknown