FACULTY OF ENGINEERING

With increased urbanization and the growing need for better sanitation hygiene practices across several countries, including many developing nations such as Nigeria, there was a great need for better sanitary facilities that would allow for cleaner sanitation. Most conventional latrines have required high manual intervention and constant maintenance, creating an environment that is often dirty, wastes water, and does not have enough cleaning facilities, even in places like restrooms at homes and public places. Despite some innovative restrooms being designed before, the majority of such restrooms either lack feasibility financially or do not contribute effectively to smart hygiene monitoring. The smart toilet design mentioned in this paper seeks to overcome the above challenges. The proposed system comprises User Detection using Sensors, automatic Flushing, Optimization of Water Usage, Surface Hygiene monitoring, with Logic implemented using a microprocessor, and Wireless Communication as well. The design employs Infrared and Proximity Sensors for detecting the presence of the user and seat usage. The system utilizes solenoid valves for controlling the amount of water used in flushing. Furthermore, the proposed system will incorporate Adaptive Flushing Logic whereby the amount of water will be optimized to improve its usage and conserve more water. Testing will be done to evaluate the performance and ensure the proper functioning of the sensors and accuracy of the flushing. After completion of the project, the expected outcome would be a working smart toilet with automatic flush capability. Moreover, after testing it is expected that the system will be capable of reliably detecting users and communicating wirelessly while optimizing water usage as well as ensuring restroom hygiene. Not only is the project useful for home and public usage but also it will go a long way to improving the sanitation level in the ever-growing cities.

This project focuses on the design and implementation of an automatic changeover system integrated with contactors and an Automatic Voltage Regulator (AVR) for efficient management of a home solar power system. The system is designed to automatically transfer load supply between the solar inverter, utility grid, and generator in the event of power failure or voltage instability, ensuring uninterrupted power delivery to essential household appliances. The control unit employs electromechanical contactors to achieve seamless source selection, while an AVR maintains stable voltage output to prevent damage to
sensitive equipment. A timer/delay relay is incorporated to coordinate the switching process, minimize transient currents, and delay the operation of the alarm siren to prevent false triggers during short interruptions. The project also integrates protective circuit breakers to safeguard the system from overloads and short circuits, improving safety and reliability. The
overall design emphasizes efficiency, automation, and simplicity, eliminating the need for manual intervention during power transitions. Testing and evaluation were carried out under various load conditions to verify performance. Results confirmed that the system achieves reliable source transfer, stable voltage regulation, and reduced downtime during source
changeovers. The project demonstrates a practical and cost-effective solution for domestic solar power management, promoting energy efficiency and dependable power supply in areas with unstable grid systems.

A study was carried out based on societal use of electric power for the purpose of domestic cooking resulting in the observation that a substantial number of households do, occasional or seriously use electric power for cooking through heat generating electric stoves. An ensuing market survey around Benin City also revealed that various brands of electric cooking stoves are being sold in the markets. A close observation further revealed that virtually all the brands on sale in the markets are imported and are quite expensive. Based on these findings the idea of providing a locally fabricated alternative for these foreign brands of electric cooking stove was conceived and it led to the execution of this project. An extensive study of used and broken electric stoves as well as an extensive literature review showed that it is possible to design and fabricate from locally available materials, with the
purchase of just two of the main components, the heating element and the thermostat. With this understanding, basic engineering knowledge was then applied to design all the components of a basic electric cooking stove. The components included the Frame, the Heat Generating Compartment, the Support Ceramic for the heating element, the Heating Element, the Internal Wiring, the Thermostat and the External Wiring and Plug. The designed components were fabricated and assembled to produce the electric stove which was tested and found to operate to a very high level. The main findings from this project work shows that the unit fabricated was not only more affordable, it was more sturdy and able to support cooking pots larger than what the imported brands could support. The design was also made to generate higher temperatures that leads to faster cooking thus balancing the total cost of power usually needed to cook the same amount of food.

State of Charge (SoC) estimation plays a crucial role in battery management systems (BMS), directly impacting the performance, safety, and longevity of lithium-ion batteries. This study presents a comparative review of three major categories of SoC estimation techniques: model-based, data-driven, and hybrid methods. The review is driven by the need to evaluate the accuracy, robustness, and practical applicability of these methods across various real-world conditions, including different temperature profiles, battery chemistries, and aging states. The research methodology involved a structured literature search, selection of 45 peerreviewed studies published between 2018 and 2025, and systematic data extraction. Model-based approaches, particularly those using Kalman filters and equivalent circuit models, demonstrated computational efficiency but showed sensitivity to parameter drift and aging. Data-driven techniques, including LSTM networks, Gaussian Process Regression (GPR), and Random Forests, offered high accuracy—often achieving <2% RMSE—but required large, diverse datasets. Hybrid methods, such as AEKF-LSTM and UKF-PSO-LSTM models, consistently achieved the highest accuracy (RMSE <1%) while balancing robustness and adaptability. The findings suggest that while model-based methods are suitable for resourceconstrained systems, hybrid approaches offer the most promising results in terms of overall performance and reliability. These insights can guide future BMS development
and inform system-level design choices in electric vehicle and energy storage applications.

Extracting oil from tight reservoir formations is notoriously difficult. These rocks have tiny, poorly connected pores and properties that vary wildly across the formation—all of which make conventional waterflooding ineffective. Water channels through easier paths, leaving most of the oil trapped. Smart Water Injection offers a different approach by adjusting the chemistry of injected water—tweaking salt content and ionic composition—to change how oil and rock interact at the molecular level. This wettability shift helps release trapped oil. I used CMG software to simulate Smart Water performance in two low-permeability reservoirs: one moderately heterogeneous (0.45 mD) and one ultra-tight and highly variable (0.28 mD). I adjusted relative permeability curves and capillary pressure functions to represent the wettability changes Smart Water causes. The results were striking. Smart Water boosted recovery by 37% in the moderate-heterogeneity case and 66% in the ultra-tight reservoir compared to conventional waterflooding. These numbers prove Smart Water can unlock significant oil volumes even in reservoirs considered extremely challenging. This study shows Smart Water is both technically sound and economically viable for tight formations. The simulation workflow developed here provides a practical screening tool for identifying good candidates without expensive upfront lab work

Cooking activities in residential and commercial kitchens generate significant amounts of heat, smoke, oil mist, odors, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and fine particulate matter, all of which contribute to poor indoor air quality and unhealthy working conditions. Prolonged exposure to these pollutants can result in respiratory irritation, thermal discomfort, and other long-term health challenges for kitchen users. In many developing regions, the high cost of imported kitchen ventilation systems and the lack of effective local alternatives make proper fume control difficult. This project was therefore aimed at the design and fabrication of a costeffective kitchen fume extractor using locally available materials to improve indoor air quality and enhance user comfort. The design of the kitchen fume extractor was based on the principles of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and aerodynamic suction. Important design parameters considered included airflow rate, capture velocity, pressure losses, fan power requirement, structural stability, material durability, and noise control. Analytical calculations were carried out to determine the suitable hood dimensions, duct size, and axial-flow fan capacity required for effective fume extraction. Stainless steel was selected as the major construction material due to its corrosion resistance, thermal stability, ease of cleaning, and suitability for kitchen applications. The system was fabricated as a wall-mounted unit consisting of a hood, axial-flow fan, multi-stage filtration unit, and exhaust outlet, with the ability to function in both ducted and recirculatory modes. Performance evaluation was conducted under simulated cooking conditions, focusing on smoke extraction efficiency, fume clearing time, airflow uniformity, noise level, and general operational effectiveness. The results showed a significant reduction in smoke concentration and odor persistence within the kitchen environment, with stable airflow distribution and acceptable noise levels during operation. The extractor successfully removed cooking fumes within a short time and improved thermal comfort and air quality. The study concluded that an efficient and functional kitchen fume extractor can be designed and fabricated at low cost using locally available materials without compromising performance, providing a practical solution to indoor air quality control systems.

Building collapse remains a persistent challenge in urban areas across Nigeria, with Benin City experiencing a notable frequency of structural failures. It is a devastating phenomenon that leads to the destruction and loss of property and lives This paper represents a study on the hierarchical assessment of the underlying factors causing building collapse in the city of Benin. Utilizing a multi-criteria decision-making approach, the research categorizes and ranks the causes based on expert interviews, field observations, and documented case studies. Key factor examined include poor construction practices, substandard materials, inadequate regulatory enforcement, design flaws, and environmental influences. The hierarchical assessment process employs the use of structured questionnaire to gather data from professionals in the construction industry and ranks these causes based on the most voted factors into primary, secondary and tertiary factors revealing poor construction materials, inadequate supervision and regulation, corruption, poor workmanship and repurposing of buildings to be the most primary factors. Lack of proper engineering design, overloading, poor foundation work, weak enforcement of building codes and member failure to be secondary factors. Negligence and lack of maintenance, rapid urbanization and natural disasters to be tertiary factors. Recommendations to curb or reduce the issue of building collapse in the city of Benin are strict enforcement of building codes and regulations, quality control and material testing, enhanced professional training and certification, combating corruption, public awareness campaign, urban planning and zoning regulation, promotion of preventive maintenance, establishment of a building collapse response task force, encouraging use of technology in construction.

The development of affordable and efficient vacuum cleaners has become a significant concern for households and small-scale cleaning businesses, especially in developing regions where high-end vacuum cleaners are often too expensive. Vacuum cleaners are essential tools in maintaining clean indoor environments by removing dirt, dust, and other debris from floors and surfaces. However, the design and functionality of many low-cost vacuum cleaners are often compromised, especially in terms of air velocity, particle retention, and the efficiency of dust separation. These issues can lead to ineffective cleaning and the release of fine dust particles into the environment, undermining the overall effectiveness of the vacuum cleaner. Previous designs of vacuum cleaners fabricated from locally available materials often suffer from limitations such as inadequate air velocity through the wand, improper filtration of fine particles, and ineffective dust deposition mechanisms. These flaws not only reduce the cleaning efficiency but also compromise air quality in the environment. This study aims to review and improve upon the design and fabrication of such vacuum cleaners, addressing these critical issues to enhance performance and dust control.

Asphaltene deposition is a significant flow assurance challenge in oil production, particularly in the Niger Delta fields, where variations in pressure, temperature, and crude composition exacerbate the issue. This project focuses on deploying a comprehensive risk assessment framework for predicting and mitigating asphaltene deposition using Monte Carlo simulation and enhanced oil recovery (BOR) techniques, including CO2 huff-and-puff injection. The study integrates probabilistic risk analysis, and experimental data to assess asphaltene precipitation risks under varying reservoir conditions. Monte Carlo simulation is employed to quantify the uncertainties associated with key parameters such as pressure depletion, CO2injection effects, and compositional changes. The effectiveness of CO2 huff-and-puff injection as a potential remediation technique is evaluated, considering its impact on asphaltene solubility and mobility. Additionally, the framework incorporates various mitigation strategies, including chemical inhibitors, operational adjustments, and reservoir management techniques, By developing a robust risk assessment framework, this project provides a decision-making tool for petroleum engineers and field operators to optimize production strategies, reduce downtime, and enhance oil recovery in the Niger Delta region. The results will contribute to improved flow assurance practices, ensuring more sustainable and efficient
hydrocarbon extraction. This study investigates the risk of asphaltene deposition in Niger Delta oil fields, which can impede production and increase operational costs. A comprehensive risk assessment
framework was developed by integrating laboratory analysis, field data, and predictive modeling. Key factors influencing deposition include pressure, temperature, and oil composition. The proposed framework identifies high-risk conditions, enabling proactive management to minimize flow assurance issues and enhance production efficiency.

This report comprehensively overviews my project on the design and fabrication of a solar powered egg incubator. The main goal of this project was to bridge the gap between theoretical engineering principles and their practical application in developing a sustainable, energy-efficient incubation system for poultry farming. The report begins with an introduction that outlines the challenges of conventional incubation systems, such as high energy consumption, environmental impact, and unreliable performance in off-grid areas. It then discusses the objectives and scope of the project, focusing on developing an incubator that integrates solar energy, automated temperature and humidity control, and an egg-turning mechanism to maintain optimal conditions for embryo development.
A significant portion of the report details the hands-on aspects of the project, including material selection, system integration, and prototype fabrication. The work involved incorporating solar panels, battery storage, sensor-driven controls, and mechanical components, which provided valuable insights into the practical challenges of renewable energy applications in agriculture. Moreover, the report addresses the technical challenges encountered—such as managing intermittent sunlight and calibrating sensor systems—and the innovative strategies employed to overcome them. The guidance and mentorship received during this process were instrumental in refining the design and ensuring the system's reliability and efficiency. Finally, the report concludes by summarizing the key outcomes of the project, including the successful maintenance of a stable incubation environment and the potential of this solar-powered solution to reduce operational costs and environmental impact in poultry farming. In essence, this report is a testament to the successful integration of renewable energy technology with advanced engineering design, paving the way for more sustainable agricultural practices.