12 January 2012
MUSCAT -- A team consisting of nine researchers in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering of the College of Engineering at Sultan Qaboos University, developed a 'Smart' Distribution Board which is capable of saving energy and tailor-made to meet the electricity transmission and distribution requirements in the Sultanate.
Dr Amer al Hinai and Dr Amer al Habsi, academics in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, who led this consultative research project said that this project was carried out for National Electrical Industries Company, which at the beginning, approached the Industrial Innovation Centre (IIC) to find a research institution to take up this industrial research and development project.
After approaching various academic institutes in Oman, IIC selected SQU, the leading research institution in the field of Electrical Engineering. SQU was chosen due to its positive response to the idea and sound research proposal which demonstrated its expertise and resources in this field.
Commenting on the work, Dr Amer al Hinai said that in Oman, electricity consumption trebles during summer and this requires the utilities to expand generation, transmission and distribution capacities.
"Besides the emission problem and its impact to the environment, power generation expansion is limited to the availability of natural gas.
"The expansion of transmission and distribution utilities is costly and the revenue is restricted with the off-peak demand during half of the year. The surge in demand can create load shedding causing inconvenience to the general public. This also leads to lower voltage which impacts the life time of house hold electrical appliances".
The project duration spanned eleven months, from approval to completion.
Apart from Dr Amer and Dr Habsi, the research team comprised three engineers and four Omani undergraduate final year students. This provided a unique opportunity to build capacity through the field of applied industrial electrical engineering.
In the 'smart' distribution board (SDB) they designed, the voltage levels of all phases are periodically measured by the sensors. When the voltages drop below certain thresholds, appliances preselected by the user are turned off one after another and remain off until the voltage levels improve. When the voltage improves the appliances are turned back on.
The appliances can be remotely controlled using GSM, GPRS or Internet technologies. The product has implemented cutting edge technology at extremely competitive prices. The SDB solves the core problems addressed.
Having patented this successful new product, the product was demonstrated to an elite audience consisting of the Technical Director of the Authority of Electricity Regulation, Oman; the General Manager of Muscat Electricity Distribution Company; the General Manager of Majan Electricity Company and senior representatives of Mazoon Electricity Company.
The feedback was positive and encouraging. Several members requested the opportunity to run a pilot testing this new product. There is a strong likelihood that the research and devlopment project will be further expanded based on the requirements of the aforementioned authorities.
The Industrial Innovation Centre is a government organisation parented by The Research Council (TRC) and The Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE). One of its responsibilities is to build capacity by encouraging local academic institutions to engage in applied industrial research and development.
The IIC shares the total cost of funding with the company for all approved industrial research projects.
The 'smart' distribution board project is the first successfully completed industrial prototype to be delivered by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at SQU in collaboration with the IIC.
MUSCAT -- A team consisting of nine researchers in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering of the College of Engineering at Sultan Qaboos University, developed a 'Smart' Distribution Board which is capable of saving energy and tailor-made to meet the electricity transmission and distribution requirements in the Sultanate.
Dr Amer al Hinai and Dr Amer al Habsi, academics in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, who led this consultative research project said that this project was carried out for National Electrical Industries Company, which at the beginning, approached the Industrial Innovation Centre (IIC) to find a research institution to take up this industrial research and development project.
After approaching various academic institutes in Oman, IIC selected SQU, the leading research institution in the field of Electrical Engineering. SQU was chosen due to its positive response to the idea and sound research proposal which demonstrated its expertise and resources in this field.
Commenting on the work, Dr Amer al Hinai said that in Oman, electricity consumption trebles during summer and this requires the utilities to expand generation, transmission and distribution capacities.
"Besides the emission problem and its impact to the environment, power generation expansion is limited to the availability of natural gas.
"The expansion of transmission and distribution utilities is costly and the revenue is restricted with the off-peak demand during half of the year. The surge in demand can create load shedding causing inconvenience to the general public. This also leads to lower voltage which impacts the life time of house hold electrical appliances".
The project duration spanned eleven months, from approval to completion.
Apart from Dr Amer and Dr Habsi, the research team comprised three engineers and four Omani undergraduate final year students. This provided a unique opportunity to build capacity through the field of applied industrial electrical engineering.
In the 'smart' distribution board (SDB) they designed, the voltage levels of all phases are periodically measured by the sensors. When the voltages drop below certain thresholds, appliances preselected by the user are turned off one after another and remain off until the voltage levels improve. When the voltage improves the appliances are turned back on.
The appliances can be remotely controlled using GSM, GPRS or Internet technologies. The product has implemented cutting edge technology at extremely competitive prices. The SDB solves the core problems addressed.
Having patented this successful new product, the product was demonstrated to an elite audience consisting of the Technical Director of the Authority of Electricity Regulation, Oman; the General Manager of Muscat Electricity Distribution Company; the General Manager of Majan Electricity Company and senior representatives of Mazoon Electricity Company.
The feedback was positive and encouraging. Several members requested the opportunity to run a pilot testing this new product. There is a strong likelihood that the research and devlopment project will be further expanded based on the requirements of the aforementioned authorities.
The Industrial Innovation Centre is a government organisation parented by The Research Council (TRC) and The Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE). One of its responsibilities is to build capacity by encouraging local academic institutions to engage in applied industrial research and development.
The IIC shares the total cost of funding with the company for all approved industrial research projects.
The 'smart' distribution board project is the first successfully completed industrial prototype to be delivered by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at SQU in collaboration with the IIC.
© Oman Daily Observer 2012
