Perpetuum Releases Vibration Energy Harvesting Microgenerator
Perpetuum launched a vibration energy harvester to power wireless and battery-free devices capable of sending large amounts of data from many types of industrial equipment. The PMG7 high-performance microgenerator enables users to power sensors, microprocessors and transmitters for accurately monitoring the condition of plant equipment and machinery without the need for batteries, expensive cabling or maintenance. The easy-to-install solution is now available to OEMs, sensor manufacturers and end-users in all industries, allowing them to make significant cost savings.
The microgenerator converts kinetic energy from the vibration of the equipment running at mains frequency (50 or 60Hz) into electrical energy. It can generate up to 5mW which is enough to power a wireless transmitter sending up to 6Kbytes of critical data every few minutes, or smaller amounts of data - such as a temperature reading - several times a second. It is a practical device which can operate in most industrial environments and at minimal vibration levels (25mg).
The PMG7 allows operators to continually monitor plant equipment, providing valuable data - such as temperature and vibration spectra - about the condition of equipment including pumps, motors and fans. As a result, the data can be used to optimise the efficiency and availability of plant, increase the cost-efficiency of maintenance work, to prevent accidents and make significant savings in energy costs. According to the ARC advisory group, this is a market which can expect significant growth in the next three years – reaching almost €700 million by the end of 2007. The microgenerator is easy to install – it is simply screwed into place, or can be held in place by magnets. It is then left in place with no need for maintenance.
