Engineering

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    Numerrical modeling and design of a small scale timber drying kiln
    (2015-07-20) Syamunyangwa, Tanda
    Establishing Timber kilning plants requires substantial start up and subsequent operational investment costs, but the design of a small scale low cost kiln establishment would offer a possible solution to this. To achieve this, a numerical model of the drying chamber would first have to be developed and then a solid drawing of the kiln shell. A numerical and mathematical model was developed for simulating the drying process of a timber stack in a timber drying kiln. The model incorporates mass and heat transfer relationships within the kiln chamber, as well as mermodynamic properties of the wood,, drying air and the heat source. It takes into account a change of air properties along the stack and its effect on the mass and heat transfer parameters. Kiln parameters and wood board properties as well as a drying schedule are the input parameters that were defined and entered by a user. Experimentally determined values for the drying variables were used in the model input code PHOENICS Intel 2009. Validated variables used in this case included temperature, air velocity and pressure. The Model output showed that by reducing the size and altering the geometric profile of the kiln chamber and consequently reducing the drying variable gradients during the drying, you obtain a near constant drying rate. The timber stack dried under a heating chamber temperature of 80°celcius and average air velocity of 1.5 m/s. The model was validated against data available in the literature
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    'Parametic Design of Stock Feed Mixer'
    (2015-07-22) Musonda, Brian M.
    The aim of this project was to develop a parametric design of a stock feed mixer and to automate the production of design drawings and bill of quantities. In order to achieve this goal, in this project 1) a generic method of sizing the mixer for a given capacity was developed; 2) the developed generic method was applied in a Solid Works based design environment to come up with a parametric model of the mixer; 3) design drawings were generated from the parametric model and from the design drawings a bill of materials was generated. The resulting bill of materials being dependent on the design drawings which in turn are linked to the parametric model implies an automated design process
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    Programmable Logic controllers-PLC-Interface to a Robot
    (2015-07-23) Chileshe, Martin
    The Packaging of food1 and beverage in our Zambian industry is a complex controlled process which is ever desired to be in an operational state. This system therefore requires constant controlling and monitoring in order that it remains in a normal operating state. This project outlines the techniques used when designing a controlling system and ultimately brings out a prototype of the design.The design considerations include the hardware used (with the programmable logic controller, PLC, as the main module), the software design (ladder codes) the communication between the robot and the PLC, sensors and costs of the project. The controlling system should be reliable by ensuring that there is accurate and real-time notification of any change of the system status, such as over loading or under loadingTherefore. Networking and Programmable Logic Control, Interface to the Robot, was undertaken to bring out the technical and economical aspects of designing a control system. The main design task was the software development and the integration with networking.
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    A pumped storage flow control system design
    (2015-07-23) Kasanda, Suwilanji S
    The concept of control is a very crucial one. In one way or another, we find ourselves in need of control of several parameters in our everyday lives. In this project, we seek to control water levels in reservoirs used for hydroelectric power generation. It is known that fluctuating water levels result in fluctuating generation capacity, giving the possibility of this natural head of water becoming insufficient at some point in time. The control engineering solution to this problem is the connection of a secondary reservoir (which is supplemented by a pump) to the primary reservoir in order to control and maintain the water levels.Knowledge of fluid mechanics is used here-in to establish mathematical relationships between volume flow rates and water levels. Taking into account the valve parameters, transfer functions are obtained to design the system through phases that include open loop system, closed loop system and finally a compensated system which is the equivalent of a full-state feedback estimator controller. Analysis and parameterization using specialized software (MATLAB) gives insight on system performance in practice as it establishes the consistency of this two-tank model for a pumped storage flow control system.
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    Environmental analysis of mechanical engineering workshop conventional manufacuturing processes
    (2015-07-23) Mukumba, Nkweza
    The challenge for manufacturing is to be able to produce manufactured parts in an environmental and sustainable manner without increasing the costs. There is now broad consensus on the basic steps to sustainable manufacturing. The first step includes the identification and accounting for materials, energy and wastes in compliance with the regulations as well as reduction of toxics. The next phase involves improving the efficiency in the use of materials and energy in an attempt to reduce on the input, operational and output costs. The project conducted a system level environmental analysis of conventional manufacturing at the mechanical work shop in the School of Engineering. The analysis identified and accounted the present processes being practiced at the work shop. Then improvements were thereby suggested and implemented. The proposed new developments showed elevated the environmental performance of the work shop and a reduction in the input and output costs.An alternative process was proposed to mitigate problems. This involved dry machining using compressed air as the cooling medium. This showed further improvements in environmental performance and presented the least input as well as output related costs.
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    Ealuation of Kafue water treatment plant and town water demand
    (2015-08-24) Tembo, Patrick Balamani
    This project was aimed at evaluation of the effectiveness of the operational treatment units of Kafue Water Plant and its capacity to meet the current (2006) and future (2021) water demands. The infrastructure at the treatment plant was examined with much emphasis laid on operational units. The water quality in these units was analyzed for various parameters and lastly the plant capacity was quantified. It was found out that the quality of filtrate falls below the Zambian standards and this was attributed to disregarding components such as dosing pumps, laboratory raw water analysis, flow measuring meters stripped off the treatment system Jack of knowledge by the personnel running the treatment plant and no coagulant being used during the treatment process. As regards to the capacity of the plant, it falls below both the current and future water demands.It has been recommended that the treatment plant be expanded to meet these demands and employing qualified personnel to run the plant. In addition, all disconnected units to be connected back to the treatment units and the laboratory be revamped or enter into agreement with a well established water utility company such as Lusaka water and sewerage company.
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    Determining the transient stability models for generators at Kariba North Bank power station
    (2015-09-29) Kanjelesa, Fred
    Electrical energy is an essential ingredient for the industry and all-round development of a country. It is transmitted, from its sources to far located places of utilisation, by large interconnected power systems within which synchronous machines operate.In practice, these power systems are subjected to a number of disturbances of which the most severe is a large and sudden one having a remote possibility that an initial disturbance may lead to a regional blackout, which present us with a transient stability problem.Since the main requirement is that the machines go on operating even under such extreme conditions, there is inevitable need to determine conditions which provide indication for system transient stability assessment. Since system generators play a decisive role in power system operation and stability, their transient stability assessment implies the assessment for the system within which they operate.
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    Design of a wireless voice transceiver
    (2015-09-29) Mwango, Bwalya
    Wireless communication has increasingly become very popular today due to recent advances in technology particularly the development of Integrated circuit. Wireless transceivers are playing a huge role in voice communication and have found applications such as (a) emergency (fire and police services) (b) public utilities (water and electricity) and (c) private (service technicians and taxis).A transceiver is a unit in which the functions of transmission and reception are combined, allowing single-channel, semi-duplex operation at a substantial reduction in cost and complexity along with a greatly increased ease of operation. The transceiver is especially popular for mobile operation were a savings in size, weight and power consumption are important. Dual usage of components and stages in the transceiver permits a large reduction in the number of circuit elements. In this project, a transceiver circuit was designed that optimizes the use of ICs for large portions of the transceiver stages. The transceiver operates at a frequency of 900MHz and has a single channel.
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    To determine the levels and impact of air pollution in Lusaka
    (2015-09-29) Hamuna, Kamangu
    Air pollution levels can be estimated using different estimation techniques, such as; sampling or direct measurement, mass balance, fuel analysis or any other engineering calculations and emission factors. Furthermore, it is also important to understand how the smoke spreads and affects the surroundings. For this analysis, the computer code called PHOENICS is used. In PHOENICS a suitable control volume representing an actual area under investigation is used for the analysis. Parameters associated with the flow of smoke such as air velocity and pressure are also analyzed. The results of this analysis have shown that air velocity and pressure have an effect on the transport of smoke. High velocities and low pressures have a suctioning effect on the flue gas stacks hence easily carrying away the smoke produced. This does not however, mitigate the disastrous effects of the pollutants. The pollutants have only been carried from one region to another.