Metrology project delivers tools for energy harvesting measurement
1 min read
Tools to accurately measure the output of energy harvesting devices have been announced by the Metrology for Energy Harvesting Project. The tools are the result of a three year collaboration between seven European research institutes – including NPL from the UK.
NPL's Dr Paul Weaver said: "The lack of accurate and standardised measurement in energy harvesting is hindering the development, innovation and market acceptance of these devices, as well as efforts to improve efficient use of waste energy in industry and commercial products.
"The work we present today will enable industry and consumers to reliably assess different EH technologies. More accurate and standardised measurement will allow industry to lower costs and increased energy efficiency to make a stronger business case for applications in new sectors."
Amongst the project's deliverables are:
• Techniques and models to deliver the maximum power output for piezoelectric and other electromechanical energy harvesters.
• Techniques for measuring energy coupling at the microscale and the power requirements and outputs of MEMS devices.
• Tools and models to measure electrical and thermal properties of nanomaterial harvesters and their coupling down to the nanoscale
• The first reference materials for measuring induced electric voltage within thermometric materials in response to temperature differences with temperature ranges up to 860K.
• A test rig able to measure the performance of magnetostrictive devices.
The project is now planning a new stream of work to deepen and broaden its research in energy harvesting.
