Novel energy harvesting technology
from ABB is enabling Robinson
Brothers to make remote
temperature measurements without
the need for a power supply to the
transmitter. Combined with
WirelessHART communications
technology, it eliminates the need for
cabling to the instrument. Robinson
Brothers is trialling the transmitter
on the steam main supplying its
chemical manufacturing plant.

“The transmitter has been
operating for about three months
now and it’s ticking all the boxes
without drawing any power from its
back-up battery,” says Tom Rutter
E&I manager. “It looks like it could
go on forever, provided there’s steam
flowing through the line.”
The system was installed by ICA
Services, who suggested exploring
energy harvesting as a way of
eliminating cabling costs. The ABB
transmitter is powered by an onboard
micro-thermoelectric generator,
driven by the temperature difference
between steam pipe and the ambient
surroundings.