Condition monitoring of urban rail transit by local energy harvesting
Mingyuan Gao (Southwest University, Chongqing)
Yunwu Li (Southwest University, Chongqing)
Jun Lu (Southwest Jiaotong University)
Yifeng Wang (Southwest Jiaotong University)
Ping Wang (Southwest Jiaotong University)
L. Wang (TU Delft - Pavement Engineering)
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Abstract
The goal of this study is to develop a vibration-based electromagnetic energy harvesting prototype that provides power to rail-side monitoring equipment and sensors by collecting wheel-rail vibration energy when the train travels. This technology helps power rail–side equipment in off-grid and remote areas. This article introduces the principle, modeling, and experimental test of the system, including (1) an electromagnetic energy harvesting prototype with DC-DC boost converter and lithium battery charge management function, (2) wireless sensor nodes integrated with accelerometer and temperature/humidity sensor, and (3) a vehicle-track interaction model that considers wheel out-of-roundness. Field test results, power consumption, Littlewood–Paley wavelet transform method, and feasibility analysis are reported. An application case of the technology is introduced: the sensor nodes of the wireless sensor network are powered by the electromagnetic energy harvester and lithium battery with DC-DC boost converter, thereby continuously monitoring the railway track state; based on the Littlewood–Paley wavelet analysis of measured railway track acceleration data, the abnormal signal caused by the wheel out-of-roundness can be detected.