Applied Thermoelectric Solutions LLC

PowerBeam™ Wireless Power Transfer

A Game-Changing Solid-State Wireless Power Transfer Technology for Powering IoT Sensors on Rotating Shafts

PowerBeam® wireless power receivers for rotating shafts. PowerBeam® receivers showing thermal diode, energy conversion and heat dissipation components.
PowerBeam® solid-state wireless power transfer system mounted on a rotating hydroelectric shaft. The image shows the PowerBeam® receivers mounted on a hydroelectric power generating shaft. Also shown is a infrared transmitter.

What is PowerBeam™ Wireless Power Technology?

The Solution

The daily revenue loss resulting from the shutdown of hydroelectric generators can range from $100K to $1M per turbine. In situations where unscheduled turbine maintenance is necessary and replacement parts take a considerable amount of time to arrive, the loss of power generation revenue can be substantial.

To solve this problem, predictive maintenance algorithms utilize data generated from sensors mounted on the rotating hydroelectric generator shafts. These algorithms enable prediction of maintenance events that require turbine shutdown. Accurate prediction allows these maintenance events to be scheduled. With scheduled maintenance, parts and resources can be obtained, and put in place before shutting down the turbine, minimizing lost power generation revenue.

However, the obstacle to implementing these predictive algorithms is the currently available sensor power generation solutions. These solutions are unreliable, requiring frequent maintenance and downtime. In addition to causing their own downtime, these solutions cause shaft sensors to periodically lose power, creating discontinues data input to the algorithm and rendering the predictive maintenance prediction inaccurate.

PowerBeam™ wireless power transfer technology was designed to enable predictive maintenance algorithms and stop lost revenue due to currently available unreliable rotating shaft power sources.

Close-up view of PowerBeam™ solid-state thermoelectric wireless power modules mounted to a hydroelectric rotating shaft are shown with infrared heat source. The mounting strap is shown as well as the electrically conductive strap. As the shaft rotates, PowerBeam™ modules receive infrared energy from stationary heat sources. PowerBeam™ can then power the rotating IoT sensors that send data to predictive maintenance algorithms. This in turn minimizes downtime of the hydroelectric generator.

PowerBeam™ Expected Benefits

Increases Power Generation Revenue

Additional Benefits

Download the Journal Manuscript

See the Technical Details

Heat pipe cooled PowerBeam™ solid-state thermoelectric wireless power modules. PowerBeam™ modules are mounted on rotating hydroelectric or other shafts and receive infrared energy from stationary heat sources. PowerBeam™ can reliably power the rotating IoT sensors that send data to predictive maintenance algorithms. This in turn minimizes downtime of the hydroelectric generator.

Contact Us for Technology Licensing Inquires

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Name
Company Address
Newsletter Sign Up

For engineering services inquires, please contact us using the blue button. Use the above form for technology licensing inquiries only.

Join Our Email List for Updates