A Self-Powered Formwork Monitoring System for Concrete via Hydration Heat Recovery

To address the challenges of complex wiring, limited external power supply, and difficult maintenance in temperature monitoring during the construction of mass concrete, this study proposes a formwork-integrated self-powered temperature monitoring system based on hydration heat recovery. The system incorporates temperature sensing, thermal energy harvesting, energy storage and management, and wireless data transmission. Its heat-transfer performance, power-generation capability, and operational reliability are evaluated through experimental testing and seasonal condition analysis. The results show that interface optimization can substantially improve heat-transfer efficiency, enabling stable power generation and system operation even under low temperature-gradient conditions. The system exhibits a considerable energy surplus in summer and autumn, satisfies monitoring demands in spring, and is capable of achieving energy-neutral operation even in winter. Without requiring embedment within the concrete or reliance on an external power supply, the proposed system offers a convenient and efficient new solution for temperature monitoring during construction.