Harvests energy

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.