Design of an Improved Differentially Fed Antenna Array for RF Energy Harvesting

Abstract

This work presents an enhanced rectenna with differentially fed antenna array for RF energy harvesting. First, a linear antenna array is designed considering its side lobes less than −20 dB. Two antenna array, one with a single feed and other with differential feed, is designed to operate at 5.8 GHz. The measured peak gain of single fed and differentially fed is 13.38 and 14.29 dBi, respectively, at 5.8 GHz. The two antenna array, one with a single feed and other with differential feed, is tested for RF energy harvesting. It is observed that the differentially fed rectenna has higher output DC power than the single fed rectenna. The differentially fed rectenna has higher efficiency as compared with single fed rectenna for the power density variation from 5 to 238 µW/cm², it has maximum efficiency (RF-DC) of 82.4% at 232 µW/cm².

KEYWORDS:

• Antenna
• Antenna array
• Microstrip
• Rectenna
• Rectifying circuit

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank all concerned with the Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) Varanasi for their all-out effort to support us in completing this research.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Deepak Kumar

Deepak Kumar is working as a PhD research scholar in Department of Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology BHU, Varanasi, India. He holds the degree of BTech in electrical engineering and MTech in power electronics from Indian Institute of Technology BHU, Varanasi. The fields of his research interests are power electronics, power system, microwave power transfer, and renewable energy. Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]

Kalpana Chaudhary

Kalpana Chaudhary is working as Associate Professor in Department of Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology BHU, Varanasi, India. She holds the degree of BE in electrical engineering from Madhav Institute of Technology and Science, Gwalior, and MTech and PhD in power electronics, electrical machines, and drives from Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. The fields of her research interests are power electronics, electrical machines, and drives, microwave power transfer, renewable energy. Email: [email protected]