Underwater Energy Harvesting Enabled Smart Sensor Networks for Water Industry

This project will develop, produce and test a viable, future-proofed battery replacement Energy Harvest (EH) system for potable water monitoring applications. Like all water providers, Severn Trent Water (STW) must be compliant with Ofwat’s ever-reducing water leakage target. Regular monitoring of water flow and pressure identifies new leaks, STW used to transmit flow and pressure data twice per day. To maintain compliance STW has recently replaced 10,000+ battery powered loggers on their pipe system. The new loggers transmit 48 times per day. At this level, the batteries last 5 years. 80% of the drain on the battery is the GPRS transmission of data. The replacement cost of batteries every 5 years is £2 million for STW, £20 million for UK water as a whole*. There exists a very clear imperative for an EH system capable of sustaining the current level of data transmissions and higher levels too as leakage targets tighten. To achieve a sensible saving for water companies, the EH system must last a minimum of 15 years in service. Leak detection targets will fall twice in this period, so the system must be capable of supporting the greater system demand.