Sultan Qaboos University’s researchers develop energy-saving smart board

Muscat: Researchers at the Sultan Qaboos University’s (SQU) Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering have developed an energy saving smart distribution board (SDB).

“In the SDB, the voltage levels of all phases are periodically measured by the sensors. When the voltages drop below certain thresholds, appliances pre-selected by the user are turned off one after another and remain off until the voltage levels improve,” the researchers said.

“When the voltage improves the appliances are turned back on. The appliances can be remotely controlled using GSM, GPRS or Internet technologies. The product has a cutting edge technology at competitive prices.”
The project was carried out for National Electrical Industries Company, according to a SQU press release.

The Industrial Innovation Centre (IIC), which was in charge of the project, selected
the SQU research team.

“Besides the emission problem and its impact to the environment, power generation expansion is limited to the availability of natural gas,” pointed out Dr Amer Al Hinai, academic and one of the nine researchers involved in developing the SDB.

“The expansion of transmission and distribution utilities is costly and the revenue is restricted with the off-peak demand during half of the year,” he added.

“The surge in demand can create load shedding. This also leads to lower voltage which impacts the life time of house hold electrical appliances,” explained Dr Amer Al Habsi, another leading member of the nine-member expert team that worked on the project.

“Electricity consumption is at its peak during summer. This requires the utilities to expand generation, transmission and distribution capacities,” Amer Al Hinai said.
Apart from Amer Al Hinai and Amer Al Habsi, the research team included three engineers and four Omani undergraduate students.

The product has been patented and was demonstrated in front of the Technical Director of the Authority of Electricity Regulation, Oman, the General Manager of Muscat Electricity Distribution Company, the General Manager of Majan Electricity Company and senior representatives of Mazoon Electricity Company.

“Several members requested the opportunity to run a pilot test of the new product. There is a strong likelihood that the research and development project will be further expanded based on the requirements of the aforementioned authorities,” Al Habsi further explained.

The Industrial Innovation Centre is a government organisation parented by The Research Council (TRC) and The Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (P.E.I.E). One of its responsibilities is to build capacity by encouraging local academic institutions to engage in applied industrial research and development.
The IIC shares the total cost of funding with the company for all approved industrial research projects.

The smart distribution board project is the first successfully completed industrial prototype to be delivered by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the SQU in collaboration with the IIC.