Arfah Ahmad

Statistical distributions of load profiling data

This paper present an approach to estimate the customer load confidence interval using statistical distribution model. Time series data of load profile in the utility of Malaysia was analyze and this data was fit with two statistical distribution models, namely the normal and log-normal distribution. Goodness of fit test was performed in the selection of best model. Result shows that the customer load consumption for each seven days can be model using both distributions. An estimated 90%, 95% and 99% customer load confidence interval was done via both distribution models.

Grid connected multilevel inverters for PV application

Due to the high electricity demand and the decreasing of fossil fuel sources, most of the countries around the world goes to renewable energy such as wind, tidal and photovoltaic (PV) for electricity generation. Among these, the study of PV as an alternative source for electricity generation has gain wide attention. One of the important aspects that should be considered in PV application is the use of grid connected multilevel inverter. This work focuses on three phase diode clamped multilevel inverter, capacitor clamped multilevel inverter and H-cascaded bridge multilevel inverter for connecting grid and PV application. These three types of multilevel inverters were simulated in Matlab-Simulink environment and a multicarrier pulse width modulation (PWM) was used for the control methods. The output waveforms of multilevel inverters are presented and comparison between these are given. The best topology for a grid connected multilevel inverter for PV application is recommended.

A study on students interest and preparedness based on entry survey

The Faculty of Electrical Engineering, UTeM produces students in Bachelor Degree of Electrical Engineering and Mechatronics Engineering. The curriculum of the program was developed based on the Programes Outcomes (PO) set by the faculty committee. Entry survey is a form of survey that was conducted to students that just after their admission into the faculty. The purpose of this survey is to find out the students interest and preparedness to learn electrical and mechatronics engineering educations. All of the items in the survey were developed based on POs set by the faculty. A sample of 131 students participated in this survey and the results were analyzed using mean score analysis. Result from the study shows that students admitted to this faculty were prepared enough to study engineering education, hence faculty POs set would be able to produce a competent engineers.

Support vector machine for day ahead electricity price forecasting

Electricity price forecasting has become an important part of power system operation and planning. In a pool- based electric energy market, producers submit selling bids consisting in energy blocks and their corresponding minimum selling prices to the market operator. Meanwhile, consumers submit buying bids consisting in energy blocks and their corresponding maximum buying prices to the market operator. Hence, both producers and consumers use day ahead price forecasts to derive their respective bidding strategies to the electricity market yet reduce the cost of electricity. However, forecasting electricity prices is a complex task because price series is a non-stationary and highly volatile series. Many factors cause for price spikes such as volatility in load and fuel price as well as power import to and export from outside the market through long term contract. This paper introduces an approach of machine learning algorithm for day ahead electricity price forecasting with Least Square Support Vector Mac...

Experimental Study on the Ground Resistance Reduction Based on Different Types of Grounding Rod

Grounding of electrical installation is primarily concerned with ensuring safety. The main purpose of grounding is to channel the fault current straightly to the earth. To produce a good grounding system, the value of earth resistance must be reduced as low as possible. Otherwise, current may flows through to those who touch the damage electrical equipment instead of flowing through grounding system. In this project, a 3 meter length of copper, galvanized iron and pure steel rod were installed in formatting of grounding system. The installation of the grounding rods was based on the fall of potential method. Both single rod testing and parallel rod testing were performed in this project. A comparison on grounding resistance value for copper rod, steel rod and galvanized iron rod was examined and the selection of the best grounding rod was determined from the experimental data. Result shows that different types of rod will produce different value of resistivity in which depend on installation technique and soil condition.

Comparative study for bitumen containment strategy using different radar types for level detection

This paper analyzes the radar performance of a bitumen liquid level detection. In previous installation, radar A and B has successfully found its place to detect bitumen liquid level in tank storage. The problems occur when these two types of radar continuously give the frequent peak error in liquid level measurement output readings. With an advanced technology this research proposes of using radar C. By focusing at the frequency of error occurrence as each radar performance is continuously monitored in 8 weeks, radar A gives 55, radar B gives 19 while radar C gives 4 times. From the overall performance of usable radar based on frequency of error occurrence, the minimum error was given by radar C which makes it the most effective to be used in bitumen liquid level detection as it provided more reliable, repeatable and reasonable level measurement results value.

A case study on ground resistance based on copper electrode vs. galvanized iron electrode

Grounding of electrical installation is primarily concern with ensuring safety. The main purpose of grounding is to channel the fault current straightly to earth. To produce a good grounding system, the value of earth resistance must be reduce as low as possible. Otherwise, current may flow through to those who touch the damage electrical equipment instead of flowing through grounding system. In this project, a variety diameter of copper rod and galvanized iron rod were installed to build grounding system. The aim of this project is to find if there exists significance difference in the value of resistance when different diameter and different type of rod were used. Single rod testing and parallel rod testing were performed with fall of potential method to measure the value of earth resistance. Result shows that different types of rod with different diameter size produce different resistivity value which also depends on installation technique and soil condition.

Smart Fan Controller Add-On (SMAFAC) for Home Ceiling Fan for Home Power Optimization

The rising electricaltariff for domestic usage is a well-known issue due to the increase ofpopulation and the scarce of the natural resources to generate the powersupplies. One of the common appliances which can be found in medium householdis the AC fan (table and ceiling) which is manually in operation to control thespeed. It contributes up to 10% of domestic household power consumption.Malaysia, a tropical country with temperature constantly drops from midnight tomorning from 32 °C to 27 °C. This paper presents an innovation of a SmartController Fan (SMAFAC) as a universal external controller as add-on toautomatically controlling the existing ceiling fan speed. It is designed basedon a microcontroller based system which using the temperature sensor as aninput and automatically trigger and control the capacitor fan regulator circuitto control the speed of the fan. The circuit is designed to interface with thecapacitor fan regulator, thus could reduce the power consumption approximatelyat 27% from 12am to 7am for 30 days.

Electricity Load Forecasting Using Data Mining Technique

Accurate load forecasting is become crucial in power system operation and planning; both for deregulated and regulated electricity market.A variety of methods including neural networks, time series, hybrid method and fuzzy logic have been developed for load forecasting. The time series techniques have been widely used because load behavior can be analyzed in a time series signal with hourly, daily, weekly, and seasonal periodicities. However, for a huge power system covering large geographical area such as Peninsular Malaysia, a single forecasting model for the entire Malaysia would not satisfy the forecasting accuracy; due to the load and weather diversity. Thus, this research will cater these conditions whereby five models of SARIMA (Seasonal ARIMA) Time Series were developed for five day types.