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The main utility company in Uganda owns and operates over 8,000 Distribution Transformers (DTs) and loses over 700 DTs annually due to various reasons. At present, the distribution company uses a peak load analysis scheme to determine the transformer load conditions and effect the load growth, which is a tedious task and doesn't solve the problem of DT failure resulting from; load unbalance, over...
This paper presents a dynamic pricing concept that can be applied to hybrid electric power mini-grid systems to enable affordability of energy in these systems setup for the supply of energy to rural consumers. A location was identified in Eastern Uganda, resource assessment done, and a proposed hybrid electric power mini-grid system designed to supply electricity to this rural location. A theoretical...
This paper presents the design of flywheel rotor prototypes developed to enhance rural energisation in sub-Saharan Africa. The flywheel rotors are made from locally available fibre and epoxy resin. The profiles were designed using novel shape profiles based on Berger, Porat and Stodola’s designs and manufactured using locally available materials. One of the flywheel rotor profiles was tested on a...
This paper presents a control strategy of a flywheel system to maximize the energy available on solar panels using a Split-Pi DC-DC converter for rural applications. This new topology is mainly used in electric vehicles. The control system was designed, prototyped and tested on a flywheel system with an Axial Flux PM machine (AFPM). It showed an improvement in the solar power delivered to the electrical...
This paper presents the thermal and structural analysis of an electromechanical battery energy storage system designed to enhance rural electrification in sub-Saharan Africa. The system consists of a flywheel rotor, an electrical machine, bearings and a containment structure. The flywheel rotor was constructed from E-glass fiber, the machine from imported NdFeB magnets and commercial energy efficient...
A vision for a United States of Africa has been advocated since the dawn of independence by, among others, pioneers like Kwame Nkrumah, Gamal Abdel Nasser and Julius Nyerere. More recently the idea gained new momentum, through such initiatives as the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) and the African Union (AU) to create a single market of Africa’s 750 million people that is competitive...
A thermal model of an electromechanical flywheel with a brushless DC machine is presented. Thermal analysis is particularly important during vacuum operation of the flywheel. Accurate prediction of temperature facilitates material selection, structural integrity and good performance. In addition, the choice of vacuum level, bearings, conductor sizes and system overload capability can be attributed...
The results of an electromechanical flywheel are presented to ascertain the considerations during the design stage. The design procedure is explained in brief. The considerations include, load profiling, mechanical and electrical aspects are discussed. This is essential in achieving the numerous advantages associated with the flywheel energy storage system. The results for low speed testing are presented...
This paper presents a test rig designed at the University of Cape Town to evaluate the performance of a high speed electromechanical flywheel for energy storage. The electromechanical flywheel is specifically designed to enhance rural electrification through improving the energy storage component in solar home systems. A safe, flexible and low vibration test rig has been designed. Modal analysis using...
This paper presents the electromechanical flywheel energy storage system designed to enhance rural electrification in Sub-Saharan Africa. Most non-grid connected areas, mostly rural, are powered with solar home systems whose sustainability is limited by the short life span, low power density and low storage efficiency of the battery storage. The electromechanical flywheel rotor is made from glass...
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