Electric Outdoor Substation Model Project

Earlier in the year I mentioned that I would embark on a year long project to understand the inner workings on an outdoor electric substation. So here I start after taking some time off to study my Chinese - which in fact has improved.

Now this project will basicaly entail creating a model of each unit that is in a subsytation, link them using wires and perhaps use 240V to simulate the working. To add some salt, I will embeed my ArduinoUNO + Raspberry Pi and a few LEDs to make a SCADA system hopefully controlled from my PC or my phone to shutdown/on the sub-station.
Yeah, I know this sounds crazy but it will require funds plus careful planning and drawings to ascertain the project. I will document everything like it would be in a real life project including the Tendering and delivery of the equipment - all this for learning.

Also I noted that there are specific softwares that are used to design substations, so I hope they have 90 Days trials, this will come in handy.

My Chinese exams are in May (HSK) so incase my english starts to depeceiate significantly, kindly notify me :-) :-)

Here in my country Kenya we are going to the polls on 4th of March so hope there will be peace and no violence, am praying very hard for peace.

Anyway let me start...Have an electrifying week + Peace to all Kenyans

Image Credits: Buildpedia.com

National Energy Conference 2011

The 2nd Annual National Energy Conference started in 4th to 6th of this week, I attended the Wednesday 5th event and the presentations were impressive.
There was a good number of exhibitors were in attendance to show their products in in the energy sector. The public attendance was good, though not many were there on that day.
The 3-day event was at KICC (Kenyatta International Conference Centre).

▲The Power Technics stand was the most impressive, they mounted a VAWT (Vertical Axis Wind Turbine) which was spinning perfectly. Their people at the stand were also helpful. This was a coincidence because I was on attachment there last year. Good work PTL

▲Geothermal Development Corporation, GDC had an impressive rig for drilling of steam at a well. This model was detailed and given again that I had gone for attachment there, I understood everything well. The person who modeled this, whoever you are, good work.

Another stand worth the mention was KETRACO-Kenya Electricity Transmission Company, a newly formed government corporation that is in charge of the transmission lines handed over from Kenya Power. The gentlemen who were there to explain were very informed and knew what they were saying. The stand looked presentable with a PC to show a GIS software for designing the transmission line network.

Recommendations

1. Lake Turkana Wind Power should have been there, that was the primary reason why I attended.
2. More exhibitors will increase public attendance.

To the event organizers, splendid work, keep up.

Kengen to shut down Emergency Power Generators

The Kenya Electricity Generating Company, KenGen: Kenya's largest power producer is ready to switch off Emergency Power Generators. These power generators were commissioned last year (2009) during the period of acute shortage in power caused by low rainfall and low water levels in the hydroelectric dams.

The Emergency Power Generators which produce 150MWinto the grid, produce power from Diesel fuel resulting in the high electricity costs for Kenyans. The Power Relief cost the government 1.7Billion Ksh and have been running since the commissioning.

The expected switch off of these fuel guzzlers will take place on 6th January 2010.This will mean less power bills in the coming future as the government calls investors to explore the rich energy potential of Kenya. On the other hand, The Kenya Power & Lighting Company, KPLC - The Largest distributor of power, said consumers have been pointing a finger on them blaming them of huge power bills. KPLC has reassured its customers that they have to charge a higher Fuel Levy because of the Emergency Power generators.

A recent survey of the power in Kenya shows that the countries over-reliance of Hydro Power has seen massive shortage of power once the rains falls. It is because of this that Ken Gen has embarked of an expansion of its Geothermal Power at Olkaria, Naivasha.

Ngong Wind Power - Kenya

Installed Capacity: 5.1 Mega Watts

Commisioning Year: 2009

Wind Turbines: 6

Output of each turbine: 850kW

Model: Vestas V52

Main Contractor TPF-Econoler SA (Belgium)

Location:Ngong Hills, 22km SW of capital, Nairobi - Kenya.

Standing tall at a height of 50m from the ground, the wind turbines rotate at the winds pace in a bid to generate Kenya's source of Wind Power.The Ngong Wind Power Project which was commissioned in August 2009, is Kenya's largest Wind Power Station but will come second once the Lake Turkana Wind Power Project (LTWP) is completed.

The 6 Turbines, each with a maximum output of 850kW produce a total of 5.1MW of clean energy into the grid.For the Vestas V52 Model turbines, KenGen executed a contract for the implementation of Ngong Hills Wind Power project with TPF-Econoler SA (TPFE) of Belgium on 29th October 2007.

Industrial Attachment : KenGen Olkaria Geothermal Power Station

As part of my training I am supposed to attend practical hours at a company of my choice for approximately 100days.During this time I should be exposed to market quality machines and put into practical what I’ve been learning through.
Welcome to Industrial Attachment Series of posts.
After successful I landed in KenGen Olkaria Geothermal Power Station. Being the only in Africa, I feel privileged being here and brushing shoulders with great engineers in this place.

The Power Station
The Olkaria Geothermal Power Station is managed by KenGen, a Government Parastatal which is responsible for all state power stations. This unique power station is located on the floor of The Great Rift Valley near Lake Naivasha. The chief main source of energy is high pressure stream from the ground which is used to drive turbines to produce electricity. There are currently 3 power stations in this field ie Olkaria 1 (KenGen), Olkaria 2 (KenGen), Olkaria 3 (Orpower IPP)
A combined 105MW is derived from the field. Future expansions are underway to increase the output to 200MW harnessing the full potential of Geothermal Power. The Olkaria geothermal field spans a great area and it is located within the Hell’s Gate National Park, approximately 120km from the Capital Nairobi.

Kenyan Cabinet approves a 421MW Power Generation Programme

The power shortage in Kenya is set to ease following Tuesday’s move by the Cabinet to approve a major generation programme.

Under the New Planned Power Generation Capacity Programme, six power projects are to be initiated this year.They include:

21MW Songoro Hydropower Project.
10MW Tana Hydropower Project.
5MW Ngong Windpower Project.
80MW Early Geothermal Power Project.
25MW Kindaruma Upgrade.
280MW Olkaria 1 and Olkaria 4.

 “In this regard Cabinet forwards for parliamentary approval the establishment of an escrow guarantee fund for semi-concessional loans for external borrowing by KenGen and Kenya Electricity Transmission Company from EIB and KFW to finance the additional power generation of 421 megawatts,” a statement issued by the Presidential Press Service said.

Masinga Dam Scare - Dam Failure Possibilities

In the Tana Delta and Garissa, Masinga dam is currently at 1053.6m against a Full Supply Level (FSL) of 1056.5m, according to KRCS. This means that Masinga is only 2.9m to reaching the FSL. The EOC, KenGen and the UoN School of Mathematics will determine the overspill point or neighborhood. Once this is determined and if the rains persist as projected by the KMD, risk reduction measures ahead of the imminent floods are required.

Easter Sunday Power Blackout in Kenya

Kenya was today put out of power due to a breakdown in one of the power stations.According to KPLC (Kenya Power & Lighting Company) - the sole distribution and transmitting company, two Generators at Gitaru Power Station momentarily broke down leading to a shutdown of the other generators because they could not handle the load. The blackout lasted for an approximately 3hrs (from 1pm to 4pm) and was soon corrected by the engineers.Gitaru power station is the biggest station in terms of installed and effective capacity. The highest recorded combined output was on 22nd May 2002 when the output was 222MW and in November 2006 the unit recorded 220MW during one evening peak.The number of units installed are three, producing a total capacity of 225 MW which is the biggest hydro in E. Africa. Number 1 was commissioned 1999 with a rated capacity of 81.5.MW. the second and third were installed in 1978 rating a capacity of 72.5MW.

-------KenGen (Kenya Electricity Generating Company)

Is Engineering all about money?

Sometimes I really wonder whether this world is ever going to move forward if everybody just want money but no development. I was shocked when my fellow students were looking for an attachment at local companies based on how much they pay trainees.Why would one want to be paid and yet you are even not qualifies - you are there for the practical application of what one has learned in class. Actually, I would prefer to be attached to a company that pays little or no pay as long as I acquire that invaluable exposure.Okay, I agree that yes we all need money to survive in this competitive world but should people be paid large sums of money and yet nothing is being done in terms of development?...