FABRICATION

This project focuses on the design and fabrication of a hybrid (solar–electric) dryer for agricultural materials. The aim is to develop a low-cost and efficient drying system that utilizes both solar and electrical energy to ensure continuous operation under varying weather conditions. The dryer was designed with major components, including a solar collector, drying chamber, heating element, and forced draft fan powered by both photovoltaic and electrical sources. Locally available materials such as sheet metal, glass, insulation, and mild steel were used in the fabrication process to promote affordability and sustainability. Performance tests were carried out using cassava chips as the sample material, and relevant parameters such as temperature variation, drying time, and moisture reduction were recorded. Results showed that the hybrid dryer achieved faster and more uniform drying compared to traditional open-sun drying. The system proved reliable, environmentally friendly, and capable of maintaining operation during periods of low sunlight. This innovation demonstrates a practical approach to reducing post-harvest losses and improving the preservation of agricultural produce in regions with inconsistent power supply.

The production engineering department of the University of Benin has often relied on existing water supply from the faculty sunk borehole. This water has been investigated through physiochemical and biological testing to be below standard required quality for drinking. This has necessitated the development and installation of a water treatment for purification and dispensing facility in the departmental Annex of production engineering for safe sustainable water utilization. A conceptual design of the water treatment and dispensing facility was carried out and it comprises of cylindrical tanks stacked with one of the tank containing coarse aggregates of gravel, rock sand, fine aggregate of river sand, and activated carbon (charcoal) all separated with a filter mesh in the cylindrical tank. The other tank contains the clear water already treated by sedimentation tank containing the aggregated materials Tests and performance evaluation of the developed water treatment facility showed that that the volumes of samples of water taken from the water treatment and dispensing facility had minimal variation from one another. The samples had most volumes around the 50cl mark, while others were around 49cl sometimes successive difference of 0.1cl. The little variation in the volumes is due partly to excess drop in pressure of the reservoir water. The variance is 0.24 which is a mean of the respective deviations of the volumes. This value of the variance is very minimal, showing that the machine was able to discharge given volumes of water with considerable accuracy. The observed range of BODs for the treated water was (3.20mg/L to 3.88mg/L). Electrical conductivity values ranged from 18.00 to 65.00S/cm. It was inferred that there was no significant change in the pH value during the observation period; the observed values were in the range 6.9 to 7.5 for both samples of water before and after treatment. The physio-chemical characteristics of water samples in the study area suggested that there was no harmful
chemical contamination in both samples of water.

This project presents the design and development of a solar-powered smart poultry incubator aimed at improving hatchability through stable environmental control. The system integrates a forced-draft air circulation mechanism, a microcontroller-based temperature and humidity regulation unit, and an automatic egg-turning system to simulate natural incubation conditions. Solar energy, supported by photovoltaic cells and a DC battery bank, serves as the primary power source to ensure reliability in areas with unstable electricity supply. Experimental trials indicate that the implemented control system maintains consistent thermal and humidity conditions essential for healthy embryo development, resulting in improved hatching efficiency. The overall design contributes to sustainable poultry production by offering an affordable, energy-efficient, and locally adaptable incubator solution for small-scale and rural poultry farmers.

This project presents the design, material selection, fabrication, and performance testing of a diesel-powered vertical palm fruit digester aimed at supporting small- and medium-scale producers. The design offers a practical, affordable, and locally adaptable solution to enhance palm oil production in underserved regions. The machine achieved a digestion efficiency of 95.5% during performance testing, indicating its capability to effectively separate the mesocarp from the kernel

The growing demand for efficient, low-cost semiconductor materials for optoelectronic applications has driven significant interest in copper sulfide (CuS) thin films. This project successfully demonstrates the fabrication of CuS nanothin films on glass substrates using a simple and cost-effective Chemical Bath Deposition (CBD) technique, with a specific focus on investigating the influence of extended deposition times on their optical properties. Two sets of films were deposited using an aqueous solution of copper sulfate and thiourea, with deposition times of 20 hours and 24 hours, while maintaining all other parameters constant. The primary characterization technique employed was Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) Spectroscopy, which provided a detailed analysis of the films' light-matter interactions. The collected absorbance spectra, obtained with a high-resolution sampling interval of 1 nm and a measuring bandwidth of 2 nm, were used to determine key optical parameters. The results revealed that the extended deposition time significantly enhanced the optical performance of the CuS films. The film deposited for 24 hours exhibited a higher absorption coefficient across the UV-Vis-NIR spectrum and a more intense Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance (LSPR) peak in the near-infrared region (~1050 nm), confirming the formation of the covellite phase with a high density of free charge carriers. Tauc plot analysis derived from the absorbance data showed a narrowing of the direct optical band gap from 2.38 eV for the 20-hour film to 2.32 eV for the 24-hour film, attributed to increased crystallite size and reduced quantum confinement effects. In conclusion, this project establishes that a CBD deposition time of 24 hours is optimal for producing high-quality CuS thin films with superior light-harvesting capabilities and tailored optoelectronic properties. These findings provide valuable insights for the application of CBD-synthesized CuS films in devices such as solar cells, photothermal converters, and near-infrared sensors.

Rapid urbanization and shifting consumption patterns have led to an unprecedented increase in municipal solid waste generation, posing significant environmental and public health challenges. Traditional manual waste sorting is inefficient, unhygienic, and increasingly hazardous for waste management workers. This project presents the design and fabrication of an automated, smart Waste Segregation System capable of detecting and sorting mixed waste into three distinct categories: metallic, wet/organic, and dry/plastic. The physical architecture of the system consists of a hopper-fed conveyor belt driven by a high-torque DC motor, mounted on a durable structural frame. The intelligence of the system relies on an array of sensors integrated with an Arduino Mega microcontroller. An inductive proximity sensor is utilized to identify metallic objects, while a calibrated moisture/capacitive sensor detects organic and wet matter. Items that do not trigger these sensors are classified by default as dry non-metallic waste (such as plastics or paper). Upon material identification, the microcontroller processes the signals in real time and activates a mechanical sorting mechanism—consisting of servo-controlled flaps and pneumatic actuators—to direct the waste item into its designated collection bin. Experimental testing of the fabricated prototype demonstrated a high sorting accuracy rate of approximately [Insert your percentage, e.g., 92%] with an average processing time of [Insert time, e.g., 2–4 seconds] per item. The system successfully minimizes human intervention, increases recycling efficiency, and offers a cost-effective, scalable solution for smart city waste management initiatives.

This project presents the design, material selection, fabrication, and performance testing of a diesel-powered vertical palm fruit digester aimed at supporting small- and medium-scale producers. The design offers a practical, affordable, and locally adaptable solution to enhance palm oil production in underserved regions. The machine achieved a digestion efficiency of 95.5% during performance testing, indicating its capability to effectively separate the mesocarp from the kernel

This project involves the design and fabrication of a 1KVa solar inverter, which converts DC power from solar panels to AC power for household and industrial applications. The inverter is designed to operate at a high efficiency, with a minimum of 90% efficiency. The project also involves the development of a control system to regulate the output voltage and frequency of the inverter. Various efforts have been made to address this challenge, but existing alternatives, such as diesel generators, have proven to be inefficient, expensive, and environmentally unfriendly. They require frequent fueling, maintenance, and replacement of parts, while also contributing to pollution. The capacity of an inverter system depends on the specific application and the power requirements of the appliances being used. In this context, we are focusing on a domestic inverter system with a maximum capacity of 5KVA (4000 watts), designed to provide backup power during outages and serve as a primary source of energy when the national grid is unavailable.

The determination of fluid viscosity is fundamental to understanding fluid dynamics and various engineering applications. This project focuses on the design and construction of a Poiseuille’s experimental apparatus used to determine the viscosity of water under laminar flow conditions. The apparatus consists of a large elevated reservoir connected to a cast iron chamber that maintains a constant water level, with flow regulated through a clamp valve. Water is discharged through an outlet hose and a fine capillary tube, allowing steady and measurable flow. The flow rate and pressure difference were used to evaluate the viscosity of water, and the obtained results were compared with standard reference values. The constructed apparatus demonstrated good performance and produced viscosity values that closely agreed with theoretical expectations. The success of this work confirms that a locally fabricated Poiseuille’s apparatus can serve as a reliable, low-cost, and effective tool for experimental studies of fluid viscosity in educational and research laboratories.

Solar energy is a promising renewable energy source that can play a crucial role in addressing global energy challenges and mitigating climate change impacts. This research focuses on assessing the impact of climate change on solar energy potential, specifically in regions vulnerable to environmental shifts. The study employs a multi-faceted approach combining data analysis, modeling techniques, and machine learning algorithms to analyze solar radiation data under varying atmospheric conditions. The methodology involves collecting historical climate data, satellite-based solar radiation data, and ground-based measurements to create comprehensive datasets. Clear sky and all-sky solar radiation parameters such as Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI), Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI), and Diffuse Horizontal Irradiance (DHI) are analyzed using established models and algorithms. Machine learning techniques are utilized to develop predictive models for solar energy forecasting, considering factors like cloud cover variations, aerosol content, and long-term climate trends. The research aims to provide insights into how climate change trends impact solar energy resources, enabling better decision-making for solar energy infrastructure development and energy policy formulation. By understanding the complex interactions between climate dynamics and solar radiation, this study contributes to the advancement of sustainable energy practices and adaptation strategies in a changing climate scenario