Optimizing performance while maximizing battery life for Treon Industrial Nodes
Dec 28, 2023 · 6 minutes to read
In order to receive the maximum battery lifetime from your Treon Industrial Node, Treon Industrial Node 6 and Treon Industrial Node 6 Ex, there are several factors that should be taken into account in the deployment:
- Ambient temperature
- Measurement frequency
- Data processing
- Sending data
- Amount of measurement samples
- Routing
Factors influencing battery life
Ambient temperature
The Treon Industrial Nodes are designed to operate effectively in a broad temperature range:
Treon Industrial Node: -40°C up to +85°C
Treon Industrial Node 6: -40°C to +60°C in hazardous environments and up to +85°C in non-hazardous environments
However, it is important to note that both the ambient temperature in the deployment area as well as the temperature of the mounting surface have a direct impact on the battery life. The principle is straightforward: higher temperatures result in shorter battery life. In hotter conditions, the device’s electronics consume more power. At the same time, the available capacity from the battery decreases.
For instance: if you achieve a battery life of over five years at an average ambient temperature of +25°C, the same usage profile at +70°C could cut the battery life in half. This highlights the significance of considering ambient temperature when optimizing the performance and longevity of Treon sensors.
Measurement frequency
The frequency of measurements has an essential influence on the battery lifetime, more frequent updates result in higher power consumption, specifically due to increased use of wireless radio. This increased energy usage accelerates battery depletion, ultimately reducing the sensor’s overall battery lifespan. However, not only the data collection frequency has an impact, also data processing is a crucial factor worth considering.
Reducing the update frequency will increase the Treon sensor’s battery lifespan.
Data processing
When considering the kind of data used, several factors come into play. Are acceleration or velocity-based key performance indicators (KPIs) being used? Should the data be filtered to a specific frequency range or multiple FFT calculations with linear averaging be done in the sensor? Is data decimation necessary or not?
With Treon Industrial Nodes offering a wide range of edge processing capabilities and full configurability, power consumption can vary significantly depending on how much signal processing and calculations are done within the sensor. The complexity of the processing also matters; the more complex it is, the longer are the active periods for the sensors' microprocessor. The more processor usage, the more energy is consumed.
It is still often better to process data in the sensor itself and send the calculated KPIs or FFTs rather than transmit large volumes of waveform data to the backend via the mesh.
Sending data
When it comes to transmitting data, the frequency and type of data sent both factor into the power consumption. For example, sending key performance indicators (KPIs), which constitute a minimal amount of data, has a much lesser impact on power consumption compared to sending a large quantity of waveform data. Interestingly, waveform data possesses unique characteristics: it consumes minimal power for processing within the sensor but demands considerably more energy when transmitted wirelessly. The size of waveform data can be up to 1000 times larger than KPI data.
Sending only key performance indicators (KPIs) increases the battery lifespan.
Amount of measurement samples
The length of the vibration measurement sample has a significant impact to power consumption; affecting not only the size of data transmission when sending a waveform but also the energy needed for on-device processing.
For instance, the sample amount used for signal processing and calculations is reduced to 50 % of the maximum, power consumption should be reduced significantly. This simple adjustment can have a substantial impact, potentially extending the device’s battery life by up to a year.
Processing or sending more samples translates to a higher battery consumption. Therefore, optimizing sample size can be a powerful strategy for conserving energy and maximizing the operational lifespan of your device.
Processing more samples results in higher battery consumption.
Routing
In a mesh network, wireless devices collaborate to extend coverage and enhance reliability by sharing data through interconnected sensors. Each sensor can measure and transmit data, while also serving as a relay point for data from other sensors to reach Treon Gateway. However, it’s important to note that routing data through sensors consumes power, although not significantly in small networks or when dealing with modest data volumes, such as KPIs.
Working with very large mesh networks, particularly when transmitting substantial amounts of waveform data can be more complex. In such scenarios, some sensors positioned at the end of long routing chains may end up routing excessive amounts of data, resulting in a noticeable 10-20 % reduction in their battery life.
There are effective solutions to address this issue. One option is to add extra Treon Gateways to the mesh network. This allows the mesh to autonomously reorganize itself, optimizing routing paths for sensors and ensuring a more balanced distribution of sensors to multiple gateways. Another approach is to introduce dedicated nodes exclusively for routing, separate from the data measurement responsibilities.
Adding Treon Gateways and dedicated routing sensors minimizes extensive routing drawbacks and boosts sensor battery life.
Battery status: How to determine when the battery is low
Two approaches for determining low remaining battery lifetime are possible:
The first approach involves monitoring the battery voltage, which will decrease as the battery depletes. However, due battery chemistry, the voltage drop occurs only after the battery has been significantly depleted. Relying solely on voltage may result in late warning of low battery.
The second approach involves an innovative battery life algorithm integrated into Treon Industrial Nodes. The algorithm continually tracks device usage and ambient temperature. It estimates the remaining battery life and issues alerts to customers accordingly. With this method, Treon partners receive battery alerts with ample time – typically a few months before the sensor requires replacement. This proactive notification empowers our partners to manage their devices more effectively.
Treon Support
You still have questions? Our dedicated team of experts is happy to help you! Please contact Treon Support directly by e-mail.
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