Wireless sensing node powered by energy conversion from sensed system

An apparatus for obtaining information pertaining to a system, the apparatus comprising:

• means for performing a metal production or processing process in which a reaction yields a metal substance and generates waste energy in the form of a hot gas from operation of the process being sensed by the sensor;
• first means for employing the waste energy from the system to generate a signal, the hot gas being conveyed away from the process being performed in the system through the exhaust duct to the energy-converter, wherein the first means is configured to generate thermoelectric energy from the energy in the form of hot gas;
• second means for sensing a condition pertaining to themetal production or processing process being performed by the system and providing sensed information in response thereto;
• third means for collecting the sensed information;
• and
• fourth means for employing the first means to power the second means and/or the thirdd means using the thermoelectric energy.

An apparatus comprising:

• means for performing a metal production or processing process in which a reaction yields a metal substance and generates waste energy in the form of a hot gas from operation of the process being sensed by the sensor;
• first means for employing waste energy from the process to generate a signal, the hot gas being conveyed away from the metal production or processing process being performed in a system through the exhaust duct to the energy-converter, wherein the first means is configured to generate thermoelectric energy from the energy in the form of hot gas;
• second means for sensing a condition pertaining to the metal production or processing process and providing sensed information in response thereto;
• thirdd means for collecting the sensed information;
• and
• fourth means for employing the first means to power the second means and/or the third means using the thermoelectric energy.

An apparatus comprising:

• a sensor for sensing a characteristic of a metal production or processing process;
• a thermoelectric generator having first and second temperature sources, wherein the first temperature source is coupled to an exterior surface of a system performing the metal production or processing process in which a reaction yields a metal substance, the process being sensed by the sensor and the second temperature source is obtained from a second surface separate from surfaces of the system, the second temperature source being at a lower temperature then the first temperature source;
• and
• a wireless transmitter coupled to the thermoelectric generator and the sensor, wherein the wireless transmitter obtains power from the thermoelectric generator for transmitting an indication of the snesed characteristic from the sensor to a receiver.

A method for obtaining a sensor reading, the method comprising:

• receiving waste energy in the form of a hot gas from operation of a metal production or processing process in which a reaction yields a metal substance and the hot gas, the process being sensed by a sensor, the hot gas being conveyed away from the process being performed in a system through an exhaust duct to the energy-converter;
• using a thermoelectric generator to generate electrical energy, wherein the thermoelectric generator generates the electrical energy from the waste energy in the form of hot gas;
• using the sensor to measure a characteristic of the system performing the metal production or processing process;
• and
• using a wireless transmitter powered by the electrical energy to transmit the measured characteristic.