Abstract Solar cells integrated with antennas have aroused scientific interest as an attractive energy source alternative in low power devices for IoT and Wireless Sensor Network applications. Since the space for all components in the systems is scarce, different integration ideas have been proposed in this field. However, further analysis of the performance of photovoltaic modules used as structural components of antennas is still lacking. In this context, this work experimentally extracts the necessary parameters to create an equivalent circuit model of a modified solar cell used as a radiator of a 2.4 GHz coplanar patch antenna. The obtained model is then used in the numerical characterization of the Current- Voltage (I-V) curves under temperature variations. Antenna design and performance are described, and the physical modifications of a commercial solar cell used in the prototype are presented. The I-V curves were generated for temperatures ranging from 243 to 325 K. The obtained simulation results within this temperature range showed a 150 mV shift of the optimal operation point, decreasing in approximately 20 mW the supported power with the temperature rise. A predictive methodology is introduced to estimate the possible values for the fill factor, energy conversion efficiency, and current density in a modified solar cell under temperature variations, allowing a fully operational photovoltaic antenna design.

Abstract This article presents an experimental analysis of the use of signals transmitted by Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN) based on the IEEE 802.11b/g standards for Radio Frequency Energy Harvesting (RFEH) applications in indoor environments employing a Quasi-Yagi Rectenna (QYR) topology. This analysis is a crucial point to distinguish the use of the IEEE 802.11b/g standards for ambient RFEH applications and contributes to the debate on the use of different types of energy available for free in modern society. For it, a dedicated setup, developed in a controlled environment to avoid any external interference, was built to carry out the programmed measurements. The results obtained indicate that IEEE 802.11b/g standards have great potential for applications in RFEH, with the IEEE 802.11b average power four times higher than IEEE 802.11g at the rectifier output.

Abstract This paper presents a patch antenna array topology for Simultaneous Wireless Information and Power Transfer (SWIPT) applications. The resulting Double Patch Antenna Array (DPA) is composed of two patch antennas operating at different frequencies and fabricated on a unique substrate. One of the patches operates at the 1.8 GHz mobile communication band and is used for wireless communication, while the other one operates at the 2.4 GHz Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band, and is used for Radio Frequency Energy Harvesting (RFEH). The analyzes and measurements carried out have shown that the adopted topology has satisfactory performance for communication, with a gain of 1.5 dBi, and for out-of-band energy harvesting, with a Vout of 160 mV at 2.45 GHz. These results indicate this approach as a promising strategy for low-power wireless applications.

As redes inteligentes utilizam uma avançada infraestrutura de telecomunicações para promover o gerenciamento de toda a geração, transmissão e armazenagem de energia sobre uma região de maneira muito mais eficiente do que é feito hoje em dia. Entretanto, nas redes inteligentes, a utilização de tecnologias de comunicação sem fio para a transmissão de sinais de monitoramento e controle requerem uma eficiente proteção contra erros na transmissão dos dados, evitando assim sérios problemas à planta energética. Com esse foco, o trabalho trata do projeto de um sistema de controle deadbeat codificado sem fio de potências para um gerador de indução duplamente alimentado voltado à geração eólica para aplicações em redes inteligentes.

Smart grids comprise advanced communication infrastructure to provide balance supply, demand, and storage of energy over a region in a much more efficient manner than it is done today. However, in a smart grid, the utilization of wireless technologies for transmitting control information requires a powerful error protection to avoid any serious problems to the energétic plant. With this focus, the work is concerned with a wireless coding deadbeat power control system for a variable speed wind doubly-fed induction generator for smart grid applications.