PGD Project

The main purpose of the project was to design a 3.5KVA inverter which makes use of both solar and mains or grid supply for charging the batteries. This is to reduce the frequency of power outages experienced in our homes and businesses.

The project was carried out with the use of two 12V batteries connected in series to give a total of 24V DC which would serve as input for the inverter when on inverting mode and give an output of 220V AC for household appliances. Incorporated within the inverter was load control features, such that when the inverter stops charging and starts inverting, at a particular battery level set by the user, the heavy loads would be cut off while supply of power to the light loads continues. But when critical battery level is reached the light loads are also cut off and the inverter shuts down. This was done using Microcontroller in controlling relays which either powers on the load or cuts off the load when the battery is low. The proposed inverter design has two outputs through which load management was achieved. One of the outputs is designated to light loads and the other to heavy loads.

The Microcontroller DSPIC30F4012 controls the load stage which can be programmed through the keypad to monitor the output power to the loads in output one and two, to ensure they do not draw power beyond the limits programmed by the user. To achieve this, the Microcontroller cuts off either of the outputs which exceed the set limit. The project was successful and the test results obtained was satisfactory. The inverter's operation was consistent with the design and the desired control of power consumption and power management was achieved.

As a response to the compelling requirements of water scarcity, hygiene exposures, and accessibility issues in traditional urinary systems, the current research evolves and implements an economic, touch-free smart urinary system specifically designed for the
University of Benin Department of Mechanical Engineering (UNIBEN) Nigeria. The system features a door-operated system of magnetic reed switches and a pulse-regulated solenoid valve for hands-free operation, significantly reducing microbial transmission while achieving maximum water savings. Enclosed within a specially designed 7.2-foot galvanized steel housing, the system features a fixed-volume flush device (500 mL ± 2%) with 92% reduced water consumption compared to conventional 9-liter manual systems. Field and laboratory testing were characterized by outstanding performance, such as a 3% false trigger rate, 0.47 seconds response time, and Nigerian safety standard (SONCAP) and disability compliance. The users were 95% satisfied with enhanced hygiene and accessibility, particularly for motor-disability users. Economically, the system is a 4-month return on investment (ROI), with a yearly water cost saving of ₦4,910,625 and a maintenance saving of₦80,000, making it suitable for resource-poor settings.

Prioritizing simplicity, affordability, and scalability eschewing IoT dependencies of complexity—the project provides an Africa-wide template for sustainable sanitation in public facilities. Future research directions are suggested as solar integration, modular upgrades, and advocacy to ensure that national standards become compatible with water conservation goals. The innovation not only addresses UNIBEN's current infrastructural deficits but also global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of clean water, sanitation, and sustainable urban development.

In today's rapidly evolving industrial landscape, ensuring the effective training and development of the workforce is paramount. This abstract provides an overview of the design and implementation of an innovative Online Industrial Training Monitoring System (OITMS) aimed at enhancing the efficiency and transparency of industrial training programs. The OITMS is a comprehensive web-based platform designed to streamline the management of industrial training processes across diverse industries. It integrates advanced technologies, including data analytics, user-friendly interfaces, and real-time communication tools, to facilitate seamless training program administration and monitoring. The key features of the OITMS encompass:
1. User-Friendly Interface: Intuitive interface for administrators and trainees.
2. Training Program Management: Create, schedule, and manage training programs with ease.
3. Real-time Progress Tracking: Monitor attendance, performance, and completion in real time.
4. Resource Allocation: Optimize resource allocation, from trainers to facilities.
5. Assessment and Evaluation: Conduct assessments and analyze results for program improvement.
6. Data Analytics: Generate reports and insights for informed decision-making.
7. Security and Data Privacy: Ensures data security and compliance with privacy regulations.
8. Scalability and Customization: Adaptable to unique training needs.
9. Remote Access: Facilitates participation from anywhere, anytime.
The OITMS promises to enhance training programs, empower workforce development, reduce administrative burdens, and boost operational efficiency. By implementing the Online Industrial Training Monitoring System, organizations can optimize their training programs, enhance the skill development of their workforce, reduce administrative burdens, and ultimately improve their
overall operational efficiency.

Voting is a fundamental process in a democratic society, but traditional voting systems often suffer from issues such as lack of transparency, security vulnerabilities, and limited accessibility. To address these challenges, this paper presents the design and implementation of a block-based decentralized voting system that leverages blockchain technology to enhance transparency, s curity, and accessibility in the electoral process. The proposed system utilizes a block-based architecture to ensure the immutability and transparency of voting records. Each vote is recorded as a transaction in a blockchain, which is distributed across multiple nodes in the network. This decentralized approach eliminates the need for a central authority and reduces the risk of ta pering or manipulation of votes.
To enhance security, the system employs advanced cryptographic techniques, such as digital signatures and hash functions, to protect the integrity of the voting process. Voters are required to authenticate themselves using secure methods, such as biometric identification or digital certificates, ensuring that only eligible voters can participate inthe election.
The system also aims to improve accessibility by providing multiple channels for voters to cast their ballots, including web-based interfaces, mobile applications, and even physical voting stations equipped with blockchain-enabled devices. This flexibility allows voters to participate in elections from anywhere, reducing barriers to participation
and increasing voter turnout.
The paper presents the design and implementation details of the proposed system, including the architecture, protocols, and algorithms used. It also discusses the challenges and limitations encountered during the development process and provides insights into future research directions.
The results of this study demonstrate the potential of blockchain technology in enhancing the transparency, security, and accessibility of electoral processes. The proposed system offers a viable alternative to traditional voting methods and can be adapted to various electoral contexts, contributing to the advancement of democratic practices worldwide.

This report details the design, fabrication, and testing of a solar-powered ice cooling air conditioning system that utilizes a unique ice-based air conditioning cycle for sustainable cooling. The system harnesses solar energy to power a DC battery, which drives a pump to circulate cold water. This cold water is produced by melting ice stored in a container atop the system, with the volume of water carefully calculated to ensure sufficient cooling capacity. The chilled water is then directed to extractor fins, where it absorbs heat from the surrounding air, significantly reducing the temperature. The system's design prioritizes efficiency and environmental sustainability, promoting a cost-effective and eco-friendly approach to climate control.

In this project, a metal polishing machine, an advantageous apparatus in the testing and property investigation of metals, is designed and fabricated. The essence is to produce a simple and affordable piece of apparatus that can be used in research centres, laboratories, and workshops of Nigerian higher institutions and can serve as an alternative to the imported and costly polishing
machines currently in use. The design uses motor-powered grinding wheels of appropriate composition to be rotated against a marked-out area of a sample metal piece to be polished and subsequently etched for metallographic purposes. A considerably chemically inactive liquid does the etching in Nita solution comprising nitric acid and ethanol. Mainly dependent on the type of
metal being polished, water is used for flushing the polished area to ensure a smooth polished surface that retains the original microstructural composition and arrangement inherent in the original sample as it where before polishing. The polishing wheels are fine-grained and dense structured abrasive materials bonded together with an appropriate bonding agent. Provision is
made for wheel insertion and removal from the motor spindle to accommodate different wheel types- either with a soft grinding abrasive material for polishing hard metals or hard grinding abrasive material for soft metals. A tank will also be incorporated into the machine to aid the flow of fluid needed for this experimentation. Thus, with the locally fabricated polishing machine from this project, it is possible to etch different types of metals for proper surface exposure for optical or electron microscopic investigations and analysis.

An automated lawn mower is a machine designed to cut grass without requiring human guidance or control. With the continuous advancements in technology, automation has become integral to nearly every aspect of modern life. From household appliances to industrial machinery, automation has transformed the way we interact with our environments, reducing manual labour and improving overall efficiency. The emergence of automated lawn mowers follows this trend, replacing the conventional lawn mowing technology that demands significant human effort. This work aims to develop an improved automated lawn mower that
is both economically accessible and user-friendly, designed with locally sourced materials to minimize production costs. Unlike the existing robotic lawn mowers technologies, our model emphasizes a simple design making it easy to maintain and repair without specialized tools or skills. It is equipped with advanced sensor technology like the HC-SR04 ultrasonic and infrared sensors for obstacle detection and avoidance within the ranges of 10 to 50cm. When operating at a distance beyond 50cm, the mower consistently moved forward indicating an environment with no obstacles. Within a range of 30 to 50cm, the system effectively slowed the mower, achieving a 150millisecond response time and 98% accuracy. At closer proximities of 10 to 30cm, the mower reversed and turned with a slightly reduced accuracy of 95% and a 180millisecond response time, while obstacles detected at less than 10cm prompted at immediate stop within 120milliseconds at a 97% accuracy rate. It also integrates a 5kHz electromagnetic perimeter wire for systematic navigation and is powered by an 18V DC rechargeable battery, making it both sustainable and eco-friendly.

Anthill soils play a crucial role in sustainable agriculture practice as a source of locally available source of fertilizer which is essential in plant growth and development, and as such improve soil fertility. However, the pathogenicity of anthill soils have not been fully looked at. The aim of this study is to know the pathogenicity status of the antihill soil. Soil samples were collected from four different anthills from two locations (Institutional and residential areas in a sterile container) and their corresponding adjacent soils (control). The analysis carried out were bacterial count after aliquots of serially diluted soil were plated, cultural characteristics by culturing isolates, afterwards sub culturing. Colony count was done alongside phenotypic identification to know the (size, shape, elevation and margin). Morphological identification (Gram Staining) was done to differentiate, positive from negative. Biochemical and pathogenicity test were carried out using (protease and lipase) test. Bacteria such as E. coli, Bacillus sp, Pseudomonas sp, serratia sp, Enterobacter claocae, staphylococcus sp and Salmonella sp were found. It is therefore recommended that for effective utilization of anthill soils for agricultural crop production, further studies should be carried to better understand the premise that anthill soil maybe dangerous rather than beneficial in the long run

An Automated Residential Gate project aims to enhance security, convenience, and energy efficiency through the integration of automation and solar power technology. Traditional manual gates require significant human effort and are often inconvenient, especially for large or heavy gates. To address these issues, this project involves designing an automated sliding gate system controlled by remote access, keypads, and IOT connectivity. The system incorporates a D5V6 Smart Centurion Machine, a 60W solar panel, a 30A charge controller, and a deep-cycle battery to ensure uninterrupted operation, even during power
outages.The design includes a 0.37 kW motor with a gearbox to enhance torque efficiency, along with infrared sensors for obstacle detection and limit switches for precise movement control. Safety features such as emergency manual release and predictive maintenance alerts further improve usability and reliability. Structural materials such as steel and corrosion-resistant components ensure durability under various environmental conditions. Through performance testing, the system demonstrated smooth operation, energy efficiency, and enhanced security compared to conventional gates. The solar-powered system effectively reduces reliance on grid electricity, making it a cost-effective and sustainable solution. Future improvements may include AI-driven security enhancements and higher-efficiency solar panels to further optimize performance.

The previous system which had a 3.5KVA, 48V inverter, eight(8) 12V, 220AH wet cell batteriesb and eight(8) 150W, 24V solar panels was disconnected. A new inverter which is a hybrid inverter of rating 7.5KVA, 48V was purchased alongside with four(4) 12V, 220AH wet cell batteries. The panels which were placed on the roof 500m from the stationary unit was cleaned up with wet rags and mild detergent, and the eight(8) old batteries were cleaned up and revamped by addition of distilled water and the batteries were arranged in three(3) frameworks (four to each). A framework containing the four(4) new 12V batteries connected in series to give a steady voltage of 48V were connected to the 7.5KVA inverter of which also had the solar panels connected to it. These
made up Unit A while the other two framework which had the four(4) old 12V batteries connected in series each (making up 8 batteries) were connected together in parallel to make up for the steady 48V and then connected to the 3.5KVA inverter which was connected to a 48V, 50A charge controller on which the solar panels were connected to. These connections made up Unit B. Unit A was made to supply the departmental offices and the lecturer offices which carries more load while Unit B was made to supply the 400level, 500level class and other few minor devices which had less load. The integration of both Units and the separation of loads led to a more efficient and reliable PV system for the department of Mechanical engineering as the alternate source of power can now be used for longer hours without powering down.