Transforming Industrial Maintenance with Thermoelectric Energy Harvesting and NB-IoT : A Case Study in Oil Refinery Applications
Aragonés Ortiz, Raúl (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Microelectrònica i Sistemes Electrònics)
Oliver Malagelada, Joan (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Microelectrònica i Sistemes Electrònics)
Ferrer, Carles (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Microelectrònica i Sistemes Electrònics)

Date:	2025
Abstract:	Heat-intensive industries (e. g. , iron and steel, aluminum, cement) and explosive sectors (e. g. , oil and gas, chemical, petrochemical) face challenges in achieving Industry 4. 0 goals due to the widespread adoption of industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) technologies. Wireless solutions are favored in large facilities to reduce the costs and complexities of extensive wiring. However, conventional wireless devices powered by lithium batteries have limitations, including reduced lifespan in high-temperature environments and incompatibility with explosive atmospheres, leading to high maintenance costs. This paper presents a novel approach for energy-intensive and explosive industries, which represent over 40% of the gross production revenue (GPR) in several countries. The proposed solution uses residual heat to power ATEX-certified IIoT devices, eliminating the need for batteries and maintenance. These devices are designed for condition monitoring and predictive maintenance of rotating machinery, which is common in industrial settings. The study demonstrates the successful application of this technology, highlighting its potential to reduce costs and improve safety and efficiency in challenging industrial environments.
Grants:	Agencia Estatal de Investigación PID2020-116890RB-I00 European Commission 946845
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Energy harvesting ; Thermoelectricity ; LCA ; Carbon footprint ; LoRaWAN ; Edge computing ; NETZERO ; Energy-intensive industry
Published in:	Sensors (Basel, Switzerland), Vol. 25, Issue 3 (January 2025) , art.703, ISSN 1424-8220

DOI: 10.3390/s25030703
PMID: 39943341

22 p, 8.0 MB

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