Wireless Battery-Free Self-Powered Water Leak Detection Through Hydroelectric Energy Harvesting

Water leaks pose remarkable challenges to infrastructure, leading to costly damage and substantial resource waste. Traditional battery-powered leak detection systems present significant environmental challenges due to their nonsustainable nature, frequent replacements, recycling complexities, and associated operational costs. This work introduces a novel approach to water leak detection that circumvents these limitations using a self-powered water leak detection sensor system that harnesses hydroelectric energy. The self-powered system comprises a highly responsive sensor unit and a low-power wireless communication circuit, all interconnected through an Internet of Things (IoT) hub. Our research includes the design of the self-powered system, electrical assessments of the sensor unit under various load conditions, and the development of a custom energy management circuit utilizing an ultralow power Bluetooth low-energy (BLE) chipset. Performance evaluation tests demonstrated the system’s capabilities, with sensitivity to water leaks as low as 1 mm in depth, activation times of around 1 min, reliable operation across a temperature range of <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$- 20~^{\circ } $ </tex-math></inline-formula>C to <inline-formula xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$60~^{\circ } $ </tex-math></inline-formula>C, consistent performance over multiple cycles, efficient indoor signal transmission over distances up to 15 m, and minimal voltage degradation after 18 months shelf life, ensuring sufficient power for BLE activation. These quantitative results highlight the system’s edge over traditional methods, showcasing its novelty and potential for widespread application in sustainable infrastructure management.