Design and Fabrication of Rectenna for RF Energy Harvesting

Project Title

Design and Fabrication of Rectenna for RF Energy Harvesting

Project Area of Specialization Internet of ThingsProject Summary

A Rectenna (rectifier+antenna) is designed to convert the radio frequency (RF) energy to direct current (DC) voltage. Two microstrip patch array antennas are designed for 2.45GHz and 1.8GHz to be used as receiving antennas. The antennas are followed by an impedance matching and rectifying circuit. The rectifying circuit constitutes of high speed and low voltage drop schottky diodes. A voltage doubler is used as a final stage to produce a higher output voltage. This voltage can be used to power up a small device.

Project Objectives

The objectives of the project are:

1. to design a rectenna for RF energy harvesting
2. to capture the ambient RF energy present in our surroundings and convert it into DC voltage

Project Implementation Method

The rectenna design consists of two micro strip patch array antennas, one of which is operating at 1.8Ghz and second one is operating at 2.45 GHz. HFSS software is used as the simulation tool of the proposed micro strip patch array antennas. The designed antennas are assembled together, and tested using network Analyzer. The circuit is printed on the substrate of FR4. Rectifier circuit is used after output of patch array antenna to convert the RF power into DC. The rectifier consists of a high frequency diode and voltage multiplier circuit. To match the output of antenna with rectifier, matching circuit is used between antenna’s output and rectifier’s input. The circuit is designed and optimized using Advance Design System (ADS). According to the received wireless power, the values of output DC voltage and power are measured and the best value of load resistance to harvest maximum output DC power have been selected through simulation.

Benefits of the Project

RF energy harvesting is used to operate and charge low-power appliances. At short range, this strength is used to trickle charge a number of devices inclusive of GPS tracking tags, wearable medical sensors, and purchaser electronics including eBooks readers and headsets.

Technical Details of Final Deliverable

Hardware

1. Antennas (Microstrip Patch Array)  for 1.8GHz and 2.45 GHz                 
2. Matching Circuit
3. Rectifier      

Final Deliverable of the Project Hardware SystemType of Industry Telecommunication Technologies OthersSustainable Development Goals Industry, Innovation and InfrastructureRequired Resources

Item Name	Type	No. of Units	Per Unit Cost (in Rs)	Total (in Rs)
			Total in (Rs)	80000
Patch array Antennas	Equipment	2	7500	15000
Rf schottky diodes	Equipment	10	1000	10000
Capacitors	Equipment	10	500	5000
inductors	Equipment	10	1000	10000
Rectifier	Equipment	1	15000	15000
SMD Assembling	Equipment	1	10000	10000
SMA Connectors	Equipment	5	1000	5000
Antenna Parameters analysis	Miscellaneous	1	8000	8000
Cables,PCB etc	Miscellaneous	1	2000	2000