A Multiple-Cantilever Piezoelectric Vibration Energy Harvester for Self-Powered CO2 Monitoring in Transformer Substations

The long-term CO2 emissions of transformer substations require constant monitoring. In this study, we propose a piezoelectric vibration energy harvester designed for self-powered CO2 monitoring of transformer substations. The proposed harvester comprises multiple slender piezoelectric cantilevers arranged in parallel, which results in a higher operational frequency and a significantly enhanced power output capability. Experimental investigations were conducted to assess the energy harvesting performance. The results show that the harvester can effectively capture the vibration energy, yielding an RMS power output of 2.99 mW, corresponding to the operational frequency of the transformer substation. Additionally, a wireless CO2 sensor node was developed, demonstrating an operational mechanism for CO2 monitoring. The capacitor takes approximately 1220 s to charge for the initial data measurement and transmission. The findings confirm that the energy harvester is capable of providing sufficient power to operate the sensor node for CO2 monitoring in transformer substations.