Summary

In remote environments, wireless sensor networks (WSN) are frequently used for monitoring and sensing. The performance of the batteries that typically power these devices varies with operational and environmental factors (such as temperature and humidity) (discharge rate and state-of-charge, SOC). As a result, performance evaluation based on the aforementioned stimuli is required to determine their technical viability for WSN applications. In this paper, an effective approach to analysing battery performance metrics like capacity, open-circuit voltage (OCV), and SOC is proposed. In order to document the discharge characteristics, four battery types (lithium-ion, lithium-polymer, nickel-metal hydride, and alkaline) were subjected to discharge rates based on the IEEE 802.15.4 protocol. Investigations were done into the combined impact of discharge rates on battery surface temperature and OCV variations.

Lithium-based batteries were found to have shorter relaxation times (4–8 h), leading to quicker energy recovery while maintaining rated capacity. Nearly 80% of the voltage region was found to be flat, with only slight voltage variations during the discharge cycle. The best battery for low-power applications like WSNs is lithium-based because it experienced negligible changes in surface temperatures (about 0.03°C) in relation to discharge rates.