DefinePK

Abstract

Nowadays, sensor node networks are designed and increasingly used in various fields and sectors, such as in military (examples Battlefield surveillance, nuclear, biological and chemical attack detection and reconnaissance), in health (examples Tele-monitoring of human physiological data, monitoring patients and doctors inside a hospital), in environment (examples Forest fire detection, flood detection) and in other various applications. However, the power sources and supply of the nodes remains as challenge. Therefore, energy conservation plays an important role for this network. Usually the battery powered is used as power sources for sensor nodes, but energy harvesting offers an alternative, although it not able to avoid from the problem. In this paper, an analysis is performed to compares the use of batteries powered against solar cells powered. The basic parameter and characteristic for both of power supplies are studied in terms of capacity or volume, low self-discharge, shorter recharge time, energy density and power efficiency to generate power for the sensor nodes, the lower cost and also in terms of characteristics such as size and weight.