Hybrid Energy Harvesting System Using Solar Energy and RF Energy Signals
Keywords:
Autonomous RF system, Energy harvesting, Hybrid systems, Internet of Things, Power management, RF circuit, Solar cell, Wireless sensorsAbstract
This study presents the design and implementation of the hybrid energy harvesting system that integrates solar energy and Radio Frequency (RF) energy to enable the autonomous operation of low-power devices. The proposed system features a single-port rectangular patch antenna operating in the 2.4–2.5 GHz Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) band, designed for efficient RF energy capture. A compact RF-to-DC converter circuit is employed to convert the ambient RF signals into usable electrical energy, which is later paired with chopped energy from a solar panel. Sliced energy is managed by a low-power consumption power management circuit designed to operate autonomously without external power sources. A hybrid configuration capacitor reduces charging time by approximately 38–40%, thereby increasing the accountability and reliability of the wireless sensor system. This solution is particularly suitable for internet of things (IoT) applications, where continuous energy availability and miniatures are important. Results improve energy harvesting efficiency, making the system a promising candidate for the next generation of self-governed wireless electronics.
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