Energy Harvesting for a Smart Washer

Smart Component Technologies has developed a wireless smart washer which is capable of measuring the clamp force of bolted joints. The technology was created to monitor the correct clamp force of bolted joints during and after installation and routine maintenance of plant and valves across a wide variety of industries (e.g. rail, nuclear, oil and gas). At present the technology relies on near field wireless recharging technology and long life batteries. Smart Component Technologies wishes to add an energy harvesting facility to scavenge power from the vibrational energy present in most of the applications where a smart fastener will be used; this will yield a true fit-and-forget clamp-force monitoring system.