University of California

Zhiwei Wu

Richard M White

An apparatus for harvesting power from a current carrying conductor without electrically contacting the conductor is provided. The apparatus employs a coil with core and flux concentrators of high magnetic permeability steel that redirect the time-varying magnetic flux of the conductor to interact more strongly with the coil, and increase the coil's output voltage and power. A voltage converter may be used with a DC voltage output that can continually charge batteries or supercapacitors as well as provide energy for sensors, accelerometers, long-range radios to transmit data on local powerline conditions, and LEDs and buzzers. The apparatus may also have powered environmental sensors for measuring the concentrations of airborne particulate matter such as diesel exhaust and smoke, as well as toxic gases, greenhouse gases, allergenic pollens etc. The apparatus has a housing that is oriented and coupled to the conductor with a coupling.

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Berkeley, CA, United States of America

Zhiwei Wu