DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL/ ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING

The power supply in developing countries is practically low owing to the inability of public power plants to meet the demand of its population and this has brought in the need for an alternative source of electrical power. Where this is the case, a transfer switch is needed to transfer the supply of power from the different sources to the load. A manual transfer switch requires that a user effects the overall process of power changeover from the different supply sources to the load and this could become cumbersome hence, the need for an automatic transfer switch. The objective of this design centers on sensing the primary/main power supply source, to startup
the secondary power source (generator) when the main power supply source fails, shutdown the generator when the main power supply source is restored, to startup the secondary power source when power fluctuations from the main power supply source is detected and to automatically transfer the load to the available power source, thereby making the entire process easy and reliable. The design was carried out with low cost solid state electronic components such as; Relays, transformer, microcontroller, voltage regulator, resistors, capacitors, diodes

The project presents a comprehensive exploration of synchronization technology in power generation and distribution systems. In an era characterized by increasing demands for efficient, reliable, and sustainable energy solutions, the development of synchronization systems plays a pivotal role in ensuring seamless integration of diverse power sources. This project endeavours to bridge the gap between theory and practical implementation by designing, constructing, and evaluating a prototype synchronizing system. This work involves the designing of a 2KVA inverter and a synchronizing circuit used to parallel the connection between the inverter and a AC generator to produce a higher power voltage to carry a load greater than the individual rating of the inverter and the generator, using as oscilloscope to read the phase waveform and frequency of both the inverter and generator, with a voltmeter display showing the voltage. The voltage and frequency of both power sources are manually regulated to ensure both power sources are aligned before the circuit breaker acting as the switch for current flow to the supply outlet where the load is connected. The power sources are connected together in a series connection, and a current doubler is connected to the synchronizing system to ensure the output voltage from the synchronizing system which ranges from 350-400 volts is effectively mitigated resulting in a consistent and stable output voltage of 220volts. The construction of a prototype synchronization system was tested by manually varying the frequency and voltage of the generator and ensuring they are matched at a value of approximately 50Hz, 220V, before opening the connected outlet which supplies power to a 2500W pressing iron acting as the load. The load draws a current of about 5-6Amps from each individual power source in contrast with a current of about 9-10Amps flowing through the pressing iron. Ultimately, this project seeks to contribute to the ongoing evolution of synchronization challenges, offering a valuable foundation for future research and practical implementations.