FACULTY OF ENGINEERING,

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.

This project focuses on the design and fabrication of an improved twin blades yam pounding machine to enhance the efficiency, speed, and quality of pounded yam production. Pounded yam, produced mainly from Dioscorea rotundata, is a staple food widely consumed in Nigeria and other West African countries. Traditional pounding using mortar and pestle is labor-intensive, time-consuming, and often unhygienic, while many existing mechanized pounders use single blades that limit effective tumbling and crushing of larger yam quantities. Experimental analysis was conducted to determine the crushing force of cooked yam, and detailed engineering design calculations were performed for motor selection, shaft design, pulley system, and bearing selection. A decision matrix was used to compare two design concepts, leading to the selection of the twin blade configuration due to its superior pounding efficiency. Performance evaluation of the fabricated machine showed that it pounded 1 kg of yam in 2 minutes, 1.5 kg in 2.27 minutes, and 2 kg in 3 minutes, compared to 6–8 minutes for single-blade machines and 15–20 minutes for manual pounding. The machine achieved a throughput capacity of 292.8 kg/hr and an efficiency of 97.6%. The results demonstrate that the improved twin blades yam pounding machine provides faster operation, better texture uniformity, and higher productivity, offering a more hygienic and efficient alternative to traditional and existing mechanical methods.

This project examined the environmental and health hazards from the disposal of liquid waste generated by industries, particularly those involved in beverage production in Nigeria. Increased urbanization and rapid industrialization have occasioned increased volumes of effluent being discharged, usually without proper treatment, into River Niger and other water bodies. This results in various forms of pollution, contaminating the organic and inorganic content, ultimately causing about 25% of all preventable diseases, including waterborne diseases. This research work aimed to study and upgrade the liquid waste disposal methods at the International Breweries Limited Onitsha, Anambra State. Specific objectives included establishing the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the effluent and also appraising the sustainability and efficiency of the existing effluent treatment and disposal processes with respect to compliance with WHO standards. The methodology used in this research involves a case study approach at the brewery plant. Effluent samples were collected from pre-treatment and post-treatment points during the month of August, at morning periods to capture peak production waste. Each sample size was 2 liters, preserved at 4°C, and conveyed to the laboratory within 4 hours. Physical parameters such as pH, temperature, turbidity, total suspended solids, and color were analyzed using calibrated instruments like pH meters and spectrophotometers. Chemical parameters for biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, heavy metals, and nutrients were analyzed by digestion followed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Biological parameters-total heterotrophic bacteria, coliform counts, and E. coli-were determined by membrane filtration and incubation on selective media. Data analysis involved the use of descriptive statistics and comparison with WHO benchmarks. These results portrayed partial efficacy of the treatment. Physical parameters were improved, with turbidity falling from 1.0 NTU to 0.5 NTU; however, pH and total dissolved solids were still above WHO limits at 5.0 and 2829 mg/L, respectively. The chemical parameters were reduced-for instance, COD was reduced from 80.1 mg/L to 56.3 mg/L-but remained high, as were heavy metals (e.g., lead, 0.74 mg/L> 0.01 mg/L) and nutrients (ammonia, 8.74 mg/L> 0.5 mg/L); thus, offering a high risk for eutrophication and toxicity. Biological parameters were fully met, as coliform and E. coli counts were nil after treatment. The study concluded that the brewery's treatment system was inefficient to achieve full compliance, with the need to invest in effective treatment technologies such as reverse osmosis and nutrient removal. Individuals should advocate for clean water practices, corporate organizations should invest in advanced treatment technologies, and
government agencies should establish stricter monitoring and incentives for sustainable waste management.

The behavior of shallow foundations constructed on lateritic soils is of significant importance in tropical regions where these soils occur extensively and are commonly used for civil engineering works. Lateritic soils are highly variable in nature, and their engineering performance is strongly influenced by factors such as mineral composition, moisture content, degree of compaction, and environmental conditions. This variability often leads to challenges in predicting foundation performance and ensuring structural safety. This study investigates the behaviour of shallow foundations on lateritic soils through a combination of field and laboratory investigations. Field studies include soil sampling and in-situ tests to assess the natural state of the lateritic deposits. Laboratory tests are conducted to determine the index properties, compaction characteristics, shear strength parameters, and bearing capacity of the soils. Model and empirical methods are employed to evaluate the load-bearing capacity and settlement behavior of shallow foundations under different soil conditions. The results of the study establish relationships between key soil properties—such as moisture content, density, plasticity, and strength—and the performance of shallow foundations. The findings provide valuable insight into the load-bearing behavior of lateritic soils and highlight the importance of proper soil characterization in foundation design. The study aims to contribute to safer and more economical design practices for shallow foundations in lateritic soil environments, particularly in tropical regions.

This project evaluates the techno-economic impact of energy losses and unserved energy on a typical 11kV distribution feeder, using the GRA feeder as a case study. Data were collected over one month from the GRA 33/11kV injection substation and the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), then analyzed and simulated in PSS/E to estimate technical losses and voltage profiles. The study found that active power losses of 277.72 kW (equivalent to 277.72 kWh per hour) significantly contribute to network inefficiencies. When converted to monetary value using current tariff structures, these losses result in substantial financial costs across all customer bands, with Band A alone exceeding ₦1.39 million daily if sustained. Overall, the findings show that even moderate technical losses and outages can lead to significant financial burdens. This underscores the importance of improving network efficiency and reliability to reduce energy losses and minimize the economic impact of unserved energy

Effective waste management remains a critical challenge in many urban and rural communities, particularly in developing countries where improper disposal contributes to environmental pollution and public health risks. This project focuses on the design and fabrication of a waste segregation system aimed at improving the sorting of municipal solid waste at the source. The system is engineered to automatically separate waste materials into distinct categories such as biodegradable, non-biodegradable, and recyclable components using a combination of sensors, mechanical components, and control mechanisms.
The design incorporates affordable and locally available materials to ensure cost-effectiveness and ease of replication. Key components include a conveyor mechanism, sensing units for material identification, and sorting bins for categorized waste collection. The fabrication process involved assembling the mechanical framework, integrating electronic control systems, and testing the functionality of the system under different waste conditions.
Performance evaluation of the system demonstrated its ability to accurately segregate waste with improved efficiency compared to manual sorting methods. The results indicate that the system can significantly reduce human effort, minimize environmental hazards, and enhance recycling processes. This study concludes that the developed waste segregation system is a practical and sustainable solution for improving waste management practices, and it holds potential for adoption in households, institutions, and small-scale industries. Effective waste management remains a critical challenge in many urban and rural communities, particularly in developing countries where improper disposal contributes to environmental pollution and public health risks. This project focuses on the design and fabrication of a waste segregation system aimed at improving the sorting of municipal solid waste at the source. The system is engineered to automatically separate waste materials into distinct categories such as biodegradable, non-biodegradable, and recyclable components using a combination of sensors, mechanical components, and control mechanisms.
The design incorporates affordable and locally available materials to ensure cost-effectiveness and ease of replication. Key components include a conveyor mechanism, sensing units for material identification, and sorting bins for categorized waste collection. The fabrication process involved assembling the mechanical framework, integrating electronic control systems, and testing the functionality of the system under different waste conditions.
Performance evaluation of the system demonstrated its ability to accurately segregate waste with improved efficiency compared to manual sorting methods. The results indicate that the system can significantly reduce human effort, minimize environmental hazards, and enhance recycling processes. This study concludes that the developed waste segregation system is a practical and sustainable solution for improving waste management practices, and it holds potential for adoption in households, institutions, and small-scale industries.

The reliance on biomass for cooking is prevalent in many parts of the world, particularly in rural and peri-urban areas. Traditional biomass stoves, although widely used, are characterized by low efficiency, high fuel consumption, and significant emissions of articulate matter (PM2.5) and carbon monoxide (CO), contributing to indoor air pollution, health hazards, and environmental degradation. To address these challenges, smokeless biomass stoves have been developed, offering improved combustion efficiency and reduced emissions. This study presents a comparative analysis of a smokeless grass burner stove and traditional biomass stoves. The analysis focuses on thermal efficiency, fuel consumption, emission levels, and user acceptability. Using experimental tests such as the Water Boiling Test (WBT) and emission monitoring, the performance of the smokeless stove was evaluated. User feedback was also collected to understand the practical challenges and advantages of adopting smokeless stove technology. The results indicate that the smokeless grass burner stove achieves a thermal efficiency increase of XX% and reduces PM2.5 and CO emissions by YY% and ZZ%, respectively, compared to traditional stoves. Users reported improved cooking experiences due to reduced smoke exposure and faster cooking times. However, challenges such as initial cost, maintenance, and training requirements were identified as potential barriers to widespread adoption.

The ceramic tile manufacturing industry is vital to the construction sector, providing durable and aesthetic materials for diverse applications. In Nigeria, however, many tile production facilities face persistent challenges such as inefficiency, high production costs, and inconsistent quality due to outdated equipment and limited process control. Previous studies have shown that
simulation-based optimization, particularly with MATLAB, offers significant potential for improving manufacturing efficiency, but its application in local tile production remains limited. This study addresses this gap by exploring how MATLAB-based simulation can be employed to evaluate and enhance the performance of a tile production facility in Benin City, Edo State. The methodology involved collecting comprehensive production, machine, material, energy, and quality control data from a selected facility. These datasets were organized and converted into MATLAB struct format, enabling the development of a simulation model that replicated key stages of the production process. The model was used to run a five-year performance analysis, incorporating variables such as machine utilization, defect rates, energy consumption, and production output. Incremental optimization strategies such as adjusting batch sizes, refining firing schedules, and improving maintenance planning were introduced to assess their potential
impact on operational efficiency and cost reduction. Results from the simulation revealed gradual but consistent performance improvements over the five-year period, including increased daily output, higher machine utilization, reduced defect rates, and lower per-unit costs. Specifically, output gains of 8–12% and cost reductions of approximately 5% were achievable without major capital investments, simply through process optimization. The findings underscore MATLAB’s effectiveness as both a simulation and decision-support tool, providing a pathway for Nigerian tile manufacturers to improve competitiveness, reduce waste, and enhance sustainability through data-driven process improvement strategies

This project involves the design and fabrication of a solar water heating system utilizing the thermosiphon principle. The system consists of a 30-liter and 15-liter tank, an absorber plate constructed from copper rods and aluminum sheets, and an integrated pump and battery for enhanced performance. The project commences with a comprehensive review of previous researches on various solar water heating systems, majoring on the types of Solar water heating systems, its components, materials and method of fabrication of the system, its design considerations, as well as the importance and significance of the project. The system’s efficiency and effectiveness in heating water using solar energy are evaluated, demonstrating its potential as a sustainable and cost-effective solution for water heating applications. The performance of the system was evaluated under various operating conditions, and the results showed a significant increase in water temperature, demonstrating the system’s potential for efficient solar water heating. The average temperatures of the hot water for the 1 st, 2 nd and 3 rd days of testing are 45.4 oC, 46.5 oC and 45.9 oC respectively. The use of locally sourced materials and simple design make this system an attractive option for rural and urban areas here access to hot water is limited. This project contributes to the development of sustainable and renewable energy solutions, aligning with global efforts to reduce carbon emissions and promote energy efficiency.

Coconut is a cash and food crop that has the abaility to be grown even in bad weather, hence can be cultivated around all weathers and in virtually any geographical location in Nigeria. However; there are growing concerns of its judicious and profitable cultivation and post-harvest processing despite its commercial value as it can be consumed as food and its constituent parts can be used in pharmaceuticals, beverages, energy and power and a host of other products such as brooms, mats, floor mats. Prior to its use the coconut fruit is dehusked to remove its outer fiber shell. The dehusking process which conventionally involves the use of human effort using a sharp object is characterized by low output, susceptibility to injury and unhygienic nature. To mitigate these setbacks, a coconut dehusking machine was designed and fabricated using the design Methodology of reverse engineering. The machine had some components which include hopper, twin shafts with dehusking spikes, pulleys and pulley belts, bearings and a structural rame. Test and operational performance carried out on the machine showed that it was quite effective for dehusking various sizes of coconuts with a throughput capacity of 33 coconuts per hour. The efficiency of the machine was estimated as 83.3%. Effectiveness of the dehusking process was dependent on the dehusking force of the machine and the moisture content of the coconut fiber. A major advantage and achievement in this prototype was that more than one coconut could be dehusked simultaneously and the dehusked coconuts can be discharged automatically without the input of human effort.