Energy Harvesting and Wireless Networking: A Detailed Report

This report delves into the crucial topic of energy harvesting within wireless networks, addressing the limitations of traditional battery power. The report highlights the significance of energy harvesting for the continuous operation of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) and the growing demand for self-sustaining systems. It explores various energy harvesting techniques, including RF harvesting, solar energy, thermal energy, flow-based, wind-based, and hydro-based methods. The document emphasizes the conversion of environmental energy into electrical power to overcome the challenges associated with battery life, current leakages, and the need for uninterrupted power. The report provides an overview of each technique, making it a valuable resource for understanding sustainable energy solutions in wireless communication.

Running head: WIRELESS NETWORKING
Wireless Networking
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Energy Harvest
Energy Harvesting is a process of deriving energy from external resources such as solar
power, wind energy, kinetic energy and so on. High performance and energy efficient harvesting
systems are being explored in order to overcome the limitation of energy associated with
Wireless sensor networks (WSNs). The pervasive nature of wireless sensor network and its wide
use in Internet of Things attracts a lot of attention. The successful implementation of various
energy harvesting processes includes following a number of techniques such as RF, solar thermal
and so on. combination wireless communication with sensing mainly regulates the growth of
wireless sensor networks. Energy harvesting is necessary because, it is one of the primary
problems faced by the WSNs. If the energy sensor node of WSN is depleted, it will not perform
the its proper responsibility in network any longer, until and unless the source of the energy is
replaced or some other energy harvesting process is incorporated in order to compensate for the
void (Shaikh & Zeadally, 2016).
One of the most interesting concepts of energy harvesting is that, it allows the nodes of
wireless devices to acquire energy continuously from mad made phenomenon or nature. One of
the advantages of using energy harvest is that, it will ascertain a promising future in the field
wireless networks on basis of self- sustainability and virtually perpetual operations. The
techniques used in energy harvesting are anticipated to incorporate different changes of
transformation in wireless networking and would possibly help in reducing the use of
conventional energy (Ulukus et al., 2015).
The energy source of wireless sensor nodes is generally a battery power. However, there
are many problems associated with the batteries, which includes current leakages, battery break

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down and the limitation of the energy density of the batteries. Current leakage consumes
electricity even if the battery is not in use. Therefore, the use of batteries as an energy source is
of no use for wireless sensor nodes and applications that ranges from several months to years.
Furthermore, in order to work uninterrupted, the sensor nodes requires an uninterrupted power
supply, which the battery may not be able to supply and therefore, the need of energy harvesting
is prominent in case of wireless sensor network.
The different energy harvesting techniques are as follows (Shaikh & Zeadally, 2016)-
1) Energy harvesting based on Radio Frequency - In this technique, the radio waves are
converted into DC power and then harvested after conditioning.
2) Solar based energy harvesting- Solar energy is abundant in the environment, this can
be used for impending the energy problems associated with Wireless sensor networks.
3) Thermal based Energy Harvesting- This process of harvesting deals with converting
the heat energy into electrical energy by using Seebeck effect.
4) Flow based Energy Harvesting Technique- This techniques uses turbines and rotors for
converting its rotational movement into electrical energy.
5) Wind based energy harvesting- In this technique, the wind energy is harvested to
generate electricity.
6) Hydro based energy harvesting technique- in this technique, the energy of moving or
falling water is used in order to harness energy.

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References
Shaikh, F. K., & Zeadally, S. (2016). Energy harvesting in wireless sensor networks: A
comprehensive review. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 55, 1041-1054.
Ulukus, S., Yener, A., Erkip, E., Simeone, O., Zorzi, M., Grover, P., & Huang, K. (2015).
Energy harvesting wireless communications: A review of recent advances. IEEE Journal
on Selected Areas in Communications, 33(3), 360-381.