Autonomous Wireless Heat Energy Meter based on Piezoelectric Energy Harvester for Heat Energy Measurement in Building Complexes

This paper presents a platform for power autonomous wireless energy meter device using piezoelectric energy harvesters. This device can be mainly used for measuring the share of heat energy consumption in a fair manner in building complex with central heat energy system. In the suggested device, the piezoelectric energy harvester is also used as a flow-meter to reduce the power consumption of the device which facilitates power autonomous operation of the device. The performance of the devices is investigated based on a prototype which is used under a test condition with flow rate from 100 up to 200 liters per hour. Comparing the test results with those of recorded based on a standard hall-effect flow meter as a reference sensor verifies the multi-function operation of piezoelectric energy harvester as a flow sensor within the device.