Power Quality Improvement of a Distribution Network for Sustainable Power Supply

This paper presents a heuristic technique for improving power quality of a distribution network for sustainable electric power supply using shunt capacitor placement. The issue of power loss has been a major threat to a distribution network. A distribution network is expected to operate at certain voltage level to meet consumer’s energy demand. Power flow studies has been conducted using the Newton Raphson’s technique at the 30 bus, 11 kV Onuiyi-Nsukka distribution network. It was found that the voltage profile at buses 19 and 26 were critically violated with voltage amplitudes of 0.72 pu and 0.79 pu respectively. The feeder power quality was improved using a heuristic technique and the installation of a 1200KVAr shunt capacitor to keep bus voltage amplitudes within the legal limit of (0.95-1.05) pu. The voltage profile, active and reactive power losses on the network were determined. Active power loss and reactive power loss was reduced from 0.27MW to 0.12MW and 0.76Mvar to 0.14Mvar, respectively. Therefore, the voltage profile is enhanced and the power loss significantly reduced

Assessing Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Labour Market Potentials: Comparison of Conferees' Opinions

Technical Vocational and Technical Education (TVET) has the potential to influence the labour market and transform the economy resulting in an improvement in the advancement of careers. This study assesses the potential of TVET to influence the labour market using the opinions of conferees. The study employs an integrative multi-method approach with a descriptive survey and focus group discussion. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 153 conferees using self-selection, non-probability sampling technique. Descriptive statistics of percentages and mean were used to analyze the data collected. Furthermore, the Keiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) measure of sampling adequacy gave MSA of .948; Bartlett's Test of Sphericity showed p-value of 0.000, necessitating a factor analysis. The Kruskal-Wallis H Test was used to determine the statistical differences in the responses. Results revealed a gradual balance of gender in TVET with 53% female and 47% male; among the 99% employed in diverse sectors, only 18% (28) created jobs by themselves. Although there was coherence in agreement to TVET potentials, some respondents disagreed that TVET leads to good career opportunities. Findings show underlying strategy groupings to improve potential, in line with the focus group analysis, include: quality and upgraded learning environment, teachers and labour market information; relevant technical and employability skills, and established gender equality standards

Harmonizing work safety and health practices towards technician’s productivity in the workplace: A modified theory of planned behaviour

AbstractSeveral technicians have been exposed to danger and varying degree of risk, exposed to diverse grades of occupational and health hazard, injuries and death which may arise from accidents. Several factors that cause these accidents range from inadequate experience, short job tenure, insufficient training, etc. Therefore, this study harmonizes safety and health practices at work towards technician’s productivity in the workplace. A total of 1,080 registered technicians in workplaces in Lagos State, South-West region, Nigeria, were used as sample in this study. The samples were selected using purposive sampling technique. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used during the empirical analysis to achieve the model fits. The study shows that there is a significant influence of the health and safety practice constructs (job safety, coworker’s safety, supervisor’s safety and management of safety practices) on the construct of theory of planned behaviour (attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control and intentions) to further enhance technician safety and health practices/safety behaviour. The result from the study indicates that school-based occupational safety and health education may contribute to future reduction in job-related injury, to ensure that safe and healthy work becomes important to the student experience

Power Quality Improvement of a Distribution Network for Sustainable Power Supply

This paper presents a heuristic technique for improving power quality of a distribution network for sustainable electric power supply using shunt capacitor placement. The issue of power loss has been a major threat to a distribution network. A distribution network is expected to operate at certain voltage level to meet consumer’s energy demand. Power flow studies has been conducted using the Newton Raphson’s technique at the 30 bus, 11 kV Onuiyi-Nsukka distribution network. It was found that the voltage profile at buses 19 and 26 were critically violated with voltage amplitudes of 0.72 pu and 0.79 pu respectively. The feeder power quality was improved using a heuristic technique and the installation of a 1200KVAr shunt capacitor to keep bus voltage amplitudes within the legal limit of (0.95-1.05) pu. The voltage profile, active and reactive power losses on the network were determined. Active power loss and reactive power loss was reduced from 0.27MW to 0.12MW and 0.76Mvar to 0.14Mvar, respectively. Therefore, the voltage profile is enhanced and the power loss significantly reduced