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New technique can control transformer oil thefts - DIT
2008-07-24 10:49:30
By Guardian Reporter
The Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology has come up with a system that could help the power utility company, Tanesco, curb thefts of transformer oil, a countrywide problem that has cost the company millions of shillings.
Speaking to reporters in Dar es Salaam yesterday, DIT Principal Prof John Kondoro said the transformer protection system could detect thieves who drained oil from transformers.
In recent years, Tanzania has been witnessing increased power blackouts due to transformer burnout caused by thieves who drain oil from the machines.
Prof. Kondoro said the system would also guard transformers against overheating resulting from overloading as well as a decrease of oil caused by aging.
Under the system, he said, special gadgets would be fitted into transformers to detect intruders and alert the Tanesco control room.
``The system will have a self reporting and self protection mechanism against destruction,`` Prof. Kondoro said adding, ``When the gadget senses that the problem might damage the transformer, it will isolate it from the main supply line to prevent it from burning.``
He said the system would be networked through a wireless link to the central computer, where it would be showing the status of the transformer, its location, time the danger was experienced and action taken.
``This is an embedded system. It contains a control and monitoring software which will be installed at the control rooms; zonal and regional offices and at company headquarters,`` he said.
The DIT principal said the system had been tailored to suit the local situation, taking into account the fact that there was no theft of oil in countries the transformers were manufactured, hence no global solution to the problem.
Prof. Kondoro said the DIT had made yet another innovation of low cost house wiring that would enable low income earners connect power without necessarily doing the actual house wiring.
He said this would reduce the cost for wiring which is currently prohibitive.
It is estimated that the cost of doing wiring of a two- roomed house is more than 200,000/-, which is too high for a common man.
Under the new technology, said Prof. Kondoro, what one needs is to buy a gadget known as ready board that would be used to supply electricity into the homes.
``The application of this low cost wiring concept can halve the wiring costs compared with conventional wiring,`` he said.
Only 10 per cent of Tanzanian population lives in households connected to the country`s electric power network.
He, however, said much as the ready board technology had been tested, it was yet to be taken up by local manufacturers for commercial production since the Tanzania Bureau of Standards had failed to institute standards of the product since 2006, despite many reminders.
Prof. Kondoro said for both technologies, DIT was still negotiating with Tanesco on how they could be applied.
SOURCE: Guardian
New technique can control transformer oil thefts - DIT
2008-07-24 10:49:30
By Guardian Reporter
The Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology has come up with a system that could help the power utility company, Tanesco, curb thefts of transformer oil, a countrywide problem that has cost the company millions of shillings.
Speaking to reporters in Dar es Salaam yesterday, DIT Principal Prof John Kondoro said the transformer protection system could detect thieves who drained oil from transformers.
In recent years, Tanzania has been witnessing increased power blackouts due to transformer burnout caused by thieves who drain oil from the machines.
Prof. Kondoro said the system would also guard transformers against overheating resulting from overloading as well as a decrease of oil caused by aging.
Under the system, he said, special gadgets would be fitted into transformers to detect intruders and alert the Tanesco control room.
``The system will have a self reporting and self protection mechanism against destruction,`` Prof. Kondoro said adding, ``When the gadget senses that the problem might damage the transformer, it will isolate it from the main supply line to prevent it from burning.``
He said the system would be networked through a wireless link to the central computer, where it would be showing the status of the transformer, its location, time the danger was experienced and action taken.
``This is an embedded system. It contains a control and monitoring software which will be installed at the control rooms; zonal and regional offices and at company headquarters,`` he said.
The DIT principal said the system had been tailored to suit the local situation, taking into account the fact that there was no theft of oil in countries the transformers were manufactured, hence no global solution to the problem.
Prof. Kondoro said the DIT had made yet another innovation of low cost house wiring that would enable low income earners connect power without necessarily doing the actual house wiring.
He said this would reduce the cost for wiring which is currently prohibitive.
It is estimated that the cost of doing wiring of a two- roomed house is more than 200,000/-, which is too high for a common man.
Under the new technology, said Prof. Kondoro, what one needs is to buy a gadget known as ready board that would be used to supply electricity into the homes.
``The application of this low cost wiring concept can halve the wiring costs compared with conventional wiring,`` he said.
Only 10 per cent of Tanzanian population lives in households connected to the country`s electric power network.
He, however, said much as the ready board technology had been tested, it was yet to be taken up by local manufacturers for commercial production since the Tanzania Bureau of Standards had failed to institute standards of the product since 2006, despite many reminders.
Prof. Kondoro said for both technologies, DIT was still negotiating with Tanesco on how they could be applied.
SOURCE: Guardian
