Main Objectives

 
 

3 cost-effective and green Energy Harvesting Systems (EHSs) configurations will be realized through the combination of high performance piezoelectric (PE), thermoelectric (TE) and Thermo-Piezoelectric (TPE) generators and monolithic supercapacitors (SCs) to power selected wireless sensors nodes to be implemented in different IoT scenarios for Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) in buildings and aircrafts and accurate location and monitoring of vehicles through GPS and MEMS sensing.

InComEss seeks at developing efficient smart materials with energy harvesting and storage capabilities combining advanced polymer based-composite materials into a novel single/multi-source concept to harvest electrical energy from mechanical energy and/or waste heat ambient sources. The project will demonstrate its applicability in key sectors and applications, SHM and vehicle monitoring in automotive, aerospace and building, presenting the highest market potential.

 

Innovative Materials, Systems & Structures

Energy Harvesting

Wireless Sensor Nodes

 

InComEss at a glance

 

The project's objectives
in three simple steps.


 
 

1.

Efficient Smart Materials

InComEss seeks at developing efficient smart materials with energy harvesting and storage capabilities.

combining advanced polymer based-composite materials into a novel single/multi-source concept

to harvest electrical energy from mechanical energy and/or waste heat ambient sources.

 
 

Lead-free Piezoelectric (PE) composite fibres & thermoplastic-based Thermoelectric (TE) composites

Printable composite-based Supercapacitors with high Energy density and Power density

 

 

2.

Three Energy Harvesting Systems (EHSs)

configurations will be realized through the combination of

-high performance piezoelectric (PE)
-thermoelectric (TE)
-Thermo-Piezoelectric (TPE)
as well as

-generators
-and monolithic supercapacitors (SCs)

 
 

PEG

TEG

TPEG

Monolithic Supercapacitor


 

 

3.

Power Wireless Sensor Nodes

Power selected wireless sensors nodes to be implemented in different IoT scenarios for Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) in buildings and aircrafts (using a new miniature wireless Fiber Optics Sensing (FOS) interrogator) and accurate location and monitoring of vehicles through GPS and MEMS sensing.

 

Piezoelectric EHS
FOS

Thermoelectric EHS
GPS, MEMS

Hybrid Thermo/Piezo-electric EHS
FOS

 

Project Targets

InComEss project will pursue the following objectives

 
 

45%

Notable enhancement of the power output of Thermoelectric generator

5x

Increased performance of the Thermo - Piezoelectric generator

60%

Reduction in overall materials and processing costs of PEG, TEG and TPEG and SC

40%

Increased energy densities of electric energy storage (EES)

20%

Overall increase in the performance of the Piezoelectric generator

60%

Increased recyclability ratio of the new single and multi-source EHS

60%

Overall increase in the energy conversion efficiency of the energy harvesting systems

IoT

Integration of wireless sensor nodes (WSN) linked to potential IoT applications.

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Environment

The selected materials combinations and processing routes will allow reducing around 60% costs of overall materials and manufacturing process, including more than 40% reduction of the Green House Gas (GHGs) generated along their production value chain, and an overall reduction of hazardous waste by more than 50% compared to state-of-the-art materials.

Non-expensive ceramics and fillers together with highly recyclable and cheap polymer matrices will be used in InComEss, including avoidance of rare-earth elements and hazardous lead or Te-based elements, and ensuring a sustainable and efficient use of resources in line with the circular economy perspective.

40%

Reduction of Green House Gas

50%

Reduction of hazardous waste

60%

Highly recyclable polymers

Pb

Lead Free

Rare-Earth

Avoidance of rare-earth elements

Sustainability

Sustainable and efficient use of resources