The University of Auckland

Project #130: Supercapacitor energy management for energy harvesting systems

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Description:

In this project you will work to develop and optimise a supercapacitor energy management system for energy harvesters. Multiple energy harvesting sources feed into this system to extract ambient energy in whichever possible form to then store and distribute energy purely using supercapacitors. The target is low power IoT applications that require power in the mili to microwatt range.

Supercapacitors, renowned for their high power density and rapid charge-discharge cycles, form the cornerstone of our endeavor. They offer a promising avenue for efficient energy storage in systems reliant on energy harvesting.

The energy stored in supercapacitors should be effectively managed to maximize the performance, reliability, and longevity of energy harvesting systems. The ultimate goal is to pave the way towards sustainable and autonomous energy solutions capable of powering the technologies of tomorrow.

Advanced algorithms and control strategies tailored to the unique characteristics of supercapacitors will be developed as part of this project. Through meticulous research and experimentation, the full potential of these energy storage devices are expected to be unlocked.

Type:

Undergraduate

Outcome:

A working prototype of the supercapacitor energy management system to drive IoT devices through energy harvesting. 

Optimising the exisiting energy harvesting inputs which include thermal, vibration and solar energy. 

Investigating different stratergies of storing the harvested energy in supercapacitors. 

Conduct an overall performance analysis of the system to identify its energy harvesting and distrobution efficiency. 

Prerequisites

None

Specialisations

Categories

Supervisor

Co-supervisor

Team

Lab

Green Electronics (405.712, Lab)