In recent years, Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete (GFRC) has gained popularity in the construction industry as a versatile and durable material. GFRC offers a wide range of benefits and is becoming increasingly popular in the Pakistani market as an alternative to traditional building materials such as concrete and masonry. This article will provide an overview of GFRC and its advantages, as well as its applications in the Pakistani market.
What is GFRC?
GFRC is a type of reinforced concrete that incorporates glass fibers into the mix. These fibers provide added strength and durability to the material, making it an ideal choice for building applications. GFRC can be used for a variety of architectural and structural applications, including cladding, facades, countertops, and even entire building structures.
Advantages of GFRC
GFRC offers a number of advantages over traditional building materials. Here are some of the key benefits of using GFRC:
Lightweight: GFRC is significantly lighter than traditional concrete, making it easier to transport and install on site.
High Strength: The addition of glass fibers to the mix provides added strength and durability, allowing GFRC to withstand high loads and impacts.
Versatile: GFRC can be molded into a variety of shapes and textures, making it ideal for architectural and decorative applications.
Weather Resistant: GFRC is highly resistant to weathering, UV radiation, and other environmental factors, making it ideal for use in harsh climates.
Low Maintenance: GFRC requires minimal maintenance and is resistant to corrosion, mold, and mildew.
Applications of GFRC in the Pakistani Market
GFRC is gaining popularity in the Pakistani market as a versatile and durable material that can be used in a variety of applications. Some of the key applications of GFRC in Pakistan include:
Cladding: GFRC panels can be used to clad entire building facades, providing a durable and weather-resistant exterior surface.
Decorative Elements: GFRC can be molded into a variety of shapes and textures, making it ideal for decorative elements such as columns, cornices, and other architectural features.
Countertops and Vanities: GFRC can be used to create durable and attractive countertops and vanities for both residential and commercial applications.
Planters and Outdoor Furniture: GFRC is ideal for creating durable and weather-resistant planters and outdoor furniture for parks, gardens, and other outdoor spaces.
Conclusion
GFRC is a new construction material that is gaining popularity in the Pakistani market due to its versatility, durability, and low maintenance requirements. GFRC offers a wide range of benefits and can be used in a variety of architectural and structural applications. As the construction industry in Pakistan continues to grow and evolve, GFRC is poised to become an increasingly popular choice for building projects of all types and sizes.
Tag: engineeringreview
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GFRC as a New Construction Material for Pakistani Market
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Manufacturing Approaches of Nanorobotics
Given that nano-robots will be minuscule, doing microscopic and macroscopic activities would likely require a very large number of them to collaborate. These nano-robot swarms include both those that can replicate freely in the natural environment and those that cannot (such as utility fog). Some supporters of nanorobotics believe that self-replicating nanorobots do not necessarily make up purportedly productive nanotechnology and that the process of self-replication if it were ever developed, could be made inherently safe. This position is in response to the grey goo scenarios that they earlier helped to spread. In the context of nanomedicine, Robert Freitas has provided a thorough theoretical study of nanorobotics, addressing particular design challenges including sensing, power communication, navigation, manipulation, locomotion, and onboard processing. These talks sometimes don’t even reach the level of specific engineering and remain at the level of unbuildable generality.
The construction of nanomachines from molecular parts is an extremely difficult process. Because of how challenging it is, many engineers and scientists are still collaborating across disciplines to make advancements in this new field of development. It follows that the significance of the various ways now used to create nanorobots is pretty clear: A competition for nanorobots is currently underway, much like how technological research and development fueled the space race and nuclear arms race. Nanorobots have a lot of room to grow and belong in the category of developing technologies. The recent work on nanorobot development and research by major corporations like General Electric, Hewlett-Packard, Synopsys, Northrop Grumman, and Siemens is one of the reasons; additionally, surgeons are becoming involved and are beginning to suggest ways to use nanorobots for routine medical procedures.
A potential method for producing nanorobots for typical medical applications, such as surgical instrumentation, diagnosis, and medication distribution, involves combining nanoelectronics, photolithography, and novel biomaterials. The electronics sector has been using this technique for nanoscale production since 2008. Therefore, it is necessary to incorporate useful nanorobots into nanoelectronics devices, enabling teleoperation and increased capabilities for medical instruments.
Several papers have shown how artificial molecular motors may adhere to surfaces. It has been demonstrated that these simple nanomachines can behave like machines when placed on the surface of a macroscopic substance. The surface-anchored motors may be used to position and move nanoscale materials on a surface in a conveyor belt-like way. The mission of the Robert Freitas and Ralph Merkle-founded Nanofactory Collaboration, which consists of 23 researchers from 10 organizations and 4 countries, is to create a practical research agenda that is focused on creating positionally-controlled diamond mechanosynthesis and a diamondoid nano factory that can produce diamondoid medical nanorobots.
Bio-hybrid systems, an emerging field, combine biological and artificial structural components for biomedical or robotic purposes. Nanoscale materials such as DNA, proteins, and nanostructured mechanical components are examples of the components that make up bio-nanoelectromechanical systems (BioNEMS). Direct nanoscale feature writing is possible with thiol-ene e-beam resist, and the surface of the naturally reactive resist can then be functionalized with biomolecules. Other methods guide magnetic particles about the body by attaching a biodegradable substance to them. -
Vietnam’s journey of becoming carbon-neutral by midcentury US$135 bn power plan for 2030; wind energy to touch 17.6% and solar power 13.0%
Vietnam’s prime minister approved a long-awaited power plan for this decade that needs $134.7 billion of funding for new power plants and grids, the government said late this week, in a move that may help unlock billions of dollars of foreign investment.
The plan, known as PDP8, is aimed at ensuring energy security for the Southeast Asian country while it begins the transition from its current heavy reliance on coal to becoming carbon-neutral by midcentury.
Amid internal squabbles and work on complex reforms, the plan has been delayed for more than two years, and has seen a dozen of draft versions before the approval by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, which now needs the formal green light from the rubber-stamp parliament, possibly this month, before its final adoption.
The plan is important to unlock an initial investment of $15.5 billion in green-transition funds pledged to Vietnam in December by the Group of 7 (G-7) nations and other wealthier countries. Half the funds will come from the public sector and the rest from private investors.
After the deal, negotiators have struggled for months to progress on preliminary work to allocate the funding, multiple officials told Reuters, as Vietnam officials maintained their reticence to accept loans, which are by far the biggest component of the promised public funds.
One diplomat from the G-7 donors’ group told Reuters on Tuesday the approval was an important step, necessary to unlock funding for renewable projects, especially offshore wind. It was however not completely in line with G-7 goals, the diplomat added, as the country will still heavily rely on coal this decade.
To complete its transition to carbon neutrality with total phase-out of coal by 2050, the government estimates it needs a whopping $658 billion, of which one-fifth would have to be disbursed this decade.
The industry ministry, which prepared the document, said in a statement late on Monday that, under the plan, half of office buildings and homes in Vietnam would be powered by rooftop solar panels by 2030. The country would also aim to generate green energy for exports, with a target of 5-10 gigawatts (GW) by 2030.
The statement did not provide full details of the plan.
A draft of the PDP8, dated May 10 and seen by Reuters, showed the plan would more than double the country’s power generation capacity to 158 GW by 2030 from 69 GW at the end of 2020.
Power plants using domestic gas and imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) would be the main source of the country’s power generation mix by 2030, accounting for 37.33 GW, or 23.6%, according to the draft, with LNG accounting for the lion’s share.
Coal would still account for 19% of the mix by 2030, followed by hydropower with 18.5%, wind energy with 17.6% and solar power 13.0%, according to the draft.
The ministry did not respond to a request for comment about the draft. -
HVACR Expo to be embedded with technical conference Karachi Chapter, Ashrae Pakistan join hands, Farooq calls it opportunity for transformation
Karachi Chapter of Pakistan HVACR Society and Ashrae Pakistan Chapter have agreed to hold a technical conference in conjunction with the Annual PHVACR Expo from 8th to 10th of June 2023 at Karachi Expo Center, Pakistan
The 28 Pakistan HVACR International Expo & Conference is the most established International Exhibition on Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration in the region; it is the only focused HVACR trade show in Pakistan.
Farooq Mehboob, ASHRAE’s President said “28th Pakistan HVACR Int’l Expo & Conference is happening at a very defining moment in Pakistan’s economic history with lot of challenges; and this is the opportunity where we can transform the Country and Industry. We will work day and night to make this collaboration succeed.”
Muhammad Omer Khan, President of ASHRAE Pakistan Chapter said “This agreement will benefit members of both societies. ASHRAE will put all efforts to make the Conference successful at the 28th edition of this Expo of Pakistan HVACR Society.”
Engr. Zeeshan Ahmed Siddiqui, Chairman of Pakistan HVACR Society, Karachi Chapter thanked and briefed the participants about the progress towards holding the 28th edition of Pakistan HVACR International Expo & Conference.
Engr. Zeeshan Siddiqui said “We at Pakistan HVACR Society are bringing the latest information and new technical research for the Industry in Pakistan at this Expo and Conference to enhance the understanding of Industry in Pakistan and align stakeholders here with international industry and practices”,
“This collaboration for the Conference with ASHRAE will be beneficial for all the stakeholders”, he added.
The MOU signing ceremony held at a local hotel in Karachi was attended by the leadership of the Pakistan HVACR Society and ASHRAE Pakistan Chapter.
With 27 successful editions to date, the 28th edition of the Pakistan HVACR Expo & Conference is considered to be an ideal platform for the Industry to exhibit their products and services, network together, and enhance their knowledge. -
Closing Ceremony 7th International Multi-topic ICT Conference (IMTIC’23) at Sir Syed University
The closing ceremony of the 7th International Multi-topic ICT Conference (IMTIC’23) was jointly organized by Sir Syed University of Engineering & Technology, Karachi and Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, Jamshoroo at SSUET campus with the support of both the IEEE, Karachi Section, and Sindh Higher Education Commission in terms of technical collaboration was held on May 13, 2023. The theme of the conference was “Artificial Intelligence convergence towards sustainable communication”. The conference was attended by local and international research scholars, while keynote speakers included Professor Mithun Mukherjee, Nanjing university of Information Science and Technology China, Dr. Enrique Nava, University of Malaga, Spain, Dr. Atif Siddiqui, Airbus Defence & Space UK, and Dr. Nadeem Abbas, Linnaeus University, Sweden. IEEE International Multi-Topic Conference, IMTIC (International Conference on Emerging Technologies) is the flagship annual conference of IEEE in Pakistan.
Addressing the event, the Chief Guest, Former Vice Chancellor of Mehran University of Engineering & Technology, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Aslam Uqaili said that aside from different benefits, the conference offers an opportunity for researchers and scholars to sit together and discuss different options to serve mankind and bring a positive change in society for the betterment of people. We need to complement each other instead of competing with each other. We need people who can make a difference. Sir Syed University is a symbol of promoting education.
On the occasion, Chancellor SSUET, Jawaid Anwar’s message stated, “The first requisite for the progress of a nation is brotherhood and unity amongst sections of society. This spirit of unity and collaboration was truly embodied in IMTIC ’2023. We share a sense of accomplishment, having persistently explored state-of-the-art ideas. The 3-day conference has facilitated fruitful in-depth discussions and communication.
Speaking on the auspicious occasion, Vice Chancellor SSUET, Prof. Dr. Vali Uddin, said that the conference is projected to share significant knowledge of the state of the art advances and cutting-edge technologies, which is expected to acquire tremendous interest with the enormous presence of a quality audience. The conference resulted in a fruitful discussion. We have learned a lot from the keynote sessions delivered by the amazing research scholars.
Presenting a vote of thanks, Registrar SSUET, Syed Sarfraz Ali said that the conference was aimed at bringing together a wide spectrum of international experts to facilitate a creative environment for the promotion of research collaboration and knowledge transfer.
He appreciated the contributions of keynote speakers towards imparting valuable knowledge to the participants of this conference and for adding glamour and extra value to this conference through their physical presence.
Meritorious Professor, and Chair of IEEE Karachi Section, Prof. Dr. Bhawani Shankar Chowdhry, said that “Based on Collaboration, Cooperation, and Continuity, IMTIC introduced a new dimension. The conference made Sir Syed University and Mehran University go global, achieving more than 10 projects. IMTIC is a gateway to so many other opportunities.
Coordinator and Dean FoE&CE, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Aamir said that IMTIC has been a regular feature of Sir Syed University and Mehran University. For the conference, around 154 papers were submitted, among which 40 were presented. Knowledge and research outcome was shared by 12 keynote speakers. The conference had different sessions, including presentations, tutorials, and symposiums. -
K-Electric to build 2×660 MW Thar coal-fired power project
Signs multi-party MoU to add indigenous
resource-based power generationK-Electric signed a Memorandum-of-Understanding (MoU) with the Sindh government, Oracle Power, and PowerChina for the potential development of a 2×660 MW coal-fired power project based on Thar coal, the company’s website said.
The company claims it is committed to increasing reliance on indigenous sources of energy production to provide access to affordable energy for all.
KE was represented by its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Moonis Alvi, while Secretary of Energy Abu Bakar Ahmed was present from the provincial government, Naheed Memon, CEO of Oracle Power, and Cheng Qiang from PowerChina.
Oracle Power is an international natural resource and power project developer listed on London’s stock exchange, while PowerChina is a Fortune 500 listed integrated construction group that has completed over 40 various projects in Pakistan with a total contract value of approximately USD 6 billion, and an additional 43 projects worth USD 7.5 billion currently under execution, company’s communication on its portal says.
Sindh Minister for Energy Imtiaz Shaikh who spoke on the occasion stated “Electricity is a fundamental driver of development and progress, and this collaboration is a big step in this direction. Once operational, this project will immensely benefit the entire province which is why we are committed to providing our full support until its maturity.“
The main objective of the MoU is to provide a collaborative framework for the partnering parties, setting the stage for the establishment of this ambitious power plant. For KE, this move aligns with the company’s forward-looking plan of enhancing its generation through the addition of low-cost, indigenous fuel-based power.
The company has shared its vision of adding a total of 2,200 MW to its generation capacity by 2030 and increasing its share of renewable energy to 30% of the overall mix. The inclusion of such generation capacity also aligns with KE’s future projections for the city, which envisages a customer base of 5 million using 5,000 MW of electricity by FY30.
CEO KE Moonis Alvi also shared his excitement on the occasion, stating that “As a company, our ambition and initiatives are towards achieving net zero and tackling the energy trilemma which balances reliability, affordability, and sustainability of energy supply. Our current partnership and our future plans will greatly enable us to reduce our reliance on imported fuels. Moving forward, we are also enhancing our share of renewable energy in the generation mix to provide affordable and sustainable electricity to customers. These plans are further complemented by our comprehensive investment plan of PKR 484 billion, which will strengthen the network and deliver energy effectively to our growing customer base.”
CEO of Oracle Power Naheed Memon reiterated her company’s commitment to the development of the CPEC-listed 1320 MW coal-to-power project. She shared that Oracle has produced world-class feasibility reports which became benchmark documents for its development. Oracle Power is very pleased to have formed a strategic relationship with KE as a potential off-taker and the Government of Sindh as a facilitator and important stakeholder.
A representative from PowerChina shared that the development of the Thar Project is of great importance to Pakistan in the sense of utilizing the local coal resource. Oracle 1320MW Coal Power Project is listed as one of the priority energy projects under the China Pakistan Economic Corridor(CPEC). With the guidance and participation of the Sindh Government, together with KE and Oracle, PowerChina will provide support for the success of the project.
Earlier this year, KE also entered into an MOU with China Three Gorges South Asia Investment Limited (CTGSAIL) to collaborate on exploring renewable energy projects across the country. — PR -
Pakistan, Afghanistan among
20 countries at risk of excessive rainfall
Over 42 countries to live with dry weather conditions and thus increase more poorFood and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations says the El Niño oceanographic phenomenon forecast will return in June 2023, following three years of La Niña and thus is expected to bring dry weather conditions in around 42 countries and excessive rainfall and possible flooding in over 20 countries including Pakistan.
The forecast, says the FAO report, suggests dry weather conditions in key cropping areas of Central America, Southern Africa, and Far East Asia, while excessive rainfall and possible flooding are foreseen in Near East Asia and East Africa.
In other words, as many as 42 countries will be at risk of dry conditions and may face drought and 20 countries are at risk of excessive rainfall.
The El Niño oceanographic phenomenon is a key driver of extreme weather events that pose high risks to global food security.
Already in 2022, the number of people facing acute food insecurity was projected to reach up to 222 million in 53 countries/territories, the highest level on record according to the latest Hunger Hotspots report, the UN body writes.
“The world experienced a third consecutive La Niña event in 2022 and early 2023, a rare occurrence that has happened only twice since 1950. La Niña events are commonly associated with wetter conditions in Australia and drier conditions in the United States of America, South America, and East Africa. Reflecting these typical weather patterns, widespread flooding occurred in Australia where also bumper wheat outputs were recorded in 2021 and 2022, while drought conditions curbed wheat and maize yields in the United States of America as well as in Near East Asian countries.”
According to the report, weather forecasts point to a transition to an El Niño state in the second half of 2023 and the rainfall patterns during El Niño events tend to be the reverse of La Niña.
This report primarily focuses on dry weather conditions, considering the significant impact that water stress has on agricultural production and that a larger area of cropland is affected by rainfall deficits compared to areas expected to receive above-normal precipitation.
“The analysis examines cereal crops, given their high share of calories in total food consumption, notably in low-income countries, and, therefore, their importance for food security. There are, in addition, hazards associated with El Niño-induced wetter conditions, primarily floods, and areas with a high likelihood of excessive rainfall are also mapped.”
The report says several countries in those regions expected to remain dry are currently suffering from economic instability, due to low economic growth, unsustainable debt levels, and foreign exchange shortages, which have contributed to high inflation rates.
In the event of an agriculture production shock, this economic instability could pose challenges for countries to increase needed imports.
It further says wetter conditions are normally conducive for agricultural production, excessive rainfall amounts raise the risk of flooding, with potentially negative repercussions for the agriculture sector through damage and losses of crops. Even without triggering floods, excessively humid conditions often raise the likelihood of an increased prevalence of crop pests and weeds, as well as outbreaks of crop and animal diseases.
The identification of croplands most susceptible to El Niño effects is intended to support preparedness and response planning to minimize the negative impacts on agriculture and food security. The inclusion of the cropping calendars is to provide additional guidance on the type of support that would be most suitable for these countries. Preparing for El Niño FAO has developed Anticipatory Action (AA) standard procedures to be followed in most countries at risk of being affected by El Niño in 2023/24, where food security is a major concern. For instance, there are active AA protocols in Burkina Faso, Chad, Niger, Madagascar, Malawi, Zimbabwe, the Philippines, Pakistan, and Central American countries. In addition, FAO is ready to implement agricultural and livelihood-based interventions, in coordination with governments and humanitarian partners, should the El Niño forecast materialize. -
Engro, Indus Valley School join hands for sustainable housing solutions
Engro Polymer & Chemicals partnered with Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture to help create sustainable housing solutions for flood-affected areas, said corporation’s LinkedIn account.
The objective is to promote collaboration between academia and practice and lead towards sustainable design solutions.
Nine teams, consisting of students in their third and fourth year from the architecture department, collaborated to develop impressive low-cost housing models, incorporating PVC into their designs. The team with the most outstanding design was chosen to build a full-scale prototype of their creation. -
Mechanical Properties of Biomaterials
Biomaterials must not only be approved as biocompatible but also specially developed for their intended use inside a medical device. This is crucial when considering the mechanical characteristics that determine how a particular biomaterial performs. The Young’s Modulus, E, which represents a material’s elastic response to stresses, is one of the most important material properties. For the best compatibility between the device and the body, whether the device is implanted or mounted externally, the Young’s Moduli of the tissue and the device that is being connected to it must nearly match. Ductility is crucial for implanted biomaterials that might be exposed to temperature changes, such as dental implants. For the same reason that the tensile strength cannot be excessive, the material must be ductile. Ductility allows the material to flex without breaking and also prevents the concentration of stresses in the tissue as the temperature changes. For dental implants as well as any other rigid, load-bearing implants, such a replacement hip joint, the material’s toughness is crucial.
Another crucial characteristic that needs to be taken into account for medical devices that are embedded or fastened to the skin is the flexural stiffness, D. Flexural rigidity will affect how effectively the device surface can maintain conformal contact with the tissue surface. This is crucial for devices that measure tissue motion (strain), electrical signals (impedance), or are made to adhere to the skin without delaminating, such as epidermal electronics.
The ultimate tensile strength of the biomaterial often decreases as its elasticity rises, and vice versa. Neural probes are one use where using a high-strength material is undesirable; in these applications, the tissue will always break before the device does (under applied load) since the dura mater and brain tissue have Young’s moduli on the order of 500 Pa. When this occurs, irreparable brain damage may result; as a result, the biomaterial must have a low tensile strength if an applied load is anticipated and an elastic modulus that is less than or equal to that of brain tissue.
By matching the elastic modulus, it is feasible to prevent stress concentrations that can cause mechanical failure and limit movement and delamination at the bio interface between the implant and tissue. Tensile and compressive strengths, which define the maximum stresses a material can bear before breaking, are other crucial characteristics. They can be used to set stress limitations that a device may be exposed to inside or outside the body. It may be advantageous for a biomaterial to have low strength in some applications, while it may be desirable for a biomaterial to have great strength in some applications, such that it is resistant to failure when subjected to a load.
Due to their innate flexibility and adaptable mechanical qualities, polymers are some of the most often utilized biocompatible materials (or biomaterials). A small number of plastics, such as cyclic olefin copolymer (COC), polycarbonate (PC), polyetherimide (PEI), medical-grade polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethersulfone (PES), polyethylene (PE), polyetheretherketone (PEEK), and even polypropylene, are frequently used to make medical equipment (PP). The use of biodegradable materials advances ethics while simultaneously enhancing the biocompatibility of implantable technologies. When evaluating various biodegradable biomaterials, a number of characteristics, including biocompatibility, are crucial. Depending on their source and kind of extracellular matrix, biodegradable biomaterials can be either artificial or natural (ECM).
High toughness enables biomaterial implants to endure longer inside the body, especially when subjected to enormous stress or cyclically loaded stressors, like the pressures imparted to a hip joint when running. Toughness characterizes the material’s capacity to deform under applied force without shattering. -
Concept of Microgrid A way to ensure reliable power to industries
The availability of stable & reliable power is the basic necessity for industries that are the backbone of economic growth. Pakistan, with the 5th largest population in the world and with the availability of abundant natural and renewable resources, should have developed its power network for industries much better than where it is today.
Let us share the concept using simple wordings so you can understand it without knowing specific technical terms.
What are the different sources of power available for any small to medium-sized industry in Pakistan?
• National Grid or Utility
• Gas Generator
• Diesel or Heavy Fuel Oil Generator
• Solar
• Wind
• Steam
• Batteries and UPS
The availability, quality, and cost of power to industries through previously listed means vary around the clock. A centralized control system we name “Master control system” or “Micro Grid Control system” is required to ensure that.
• Customer power generation cost is minimal.
• The sensitive & critical equipment gets the most reliable power.
• All power generation equipment is operated according to the manufacturer’s guidelines.
• The customer power factor is maintained according to Grid guidelines.
• In the event of a sudden failure of a big power source, the plant is prevented from a complete blackout.
NATIONAL GRID OR UTILITY
K-Electric is simultaneously a power generation, distribution, and transmission company for the Karachi region. While in the rest of the country, NTDC is responsible for the transmission of power and individual cities have their own distribution companies, like IESCO (Islamabad), MEPC (Multan), LESCO (Lahore), and so on. Customers deal with these distribution companies for the purchase of power.
At what voltage level does the industry get power from the utility company?
AT 132KV LEVEL:
If the customer wants more than 5MW of power then it is provided at 132kV level, which means the customer has to install a 132kV / 11kv Grid station within its premises.
Installation of a Grid requires enormous investment, time, and huge space and therefore it is not suitable for many industries to install a Grid, despite the fact that they need above 5MW of power.
Usually, cement and steel plants do have their own grid stations. However, textile, which is the number one export sector of Pakistan, comprises medium to small size industries and cannot find feasibility for Grid station, the load of the textile unit varies from 1MW to 30MW depending on its size.
AT 11KV LEVEL:
Customers get power at an 11kV level up to 5MW load requirement. Each 132k/11kV Grid station in utility company has many outgoing 11kV feeders and customers can have dedicated 11kV feeders from the Grid station to their industry depending size of its sanctioned load and the availability of separate feeders in the Grid station.
Below is the concept figure for illustration purposes.
AT 400V LEVEL:
Usually, for load requirements up to 500kW or less, power is provided via a 400V line. An outgoing 11kV feeder from the Grid can be used to provide power to multiple customers. Each customer can have a dedicated 11kV/400V transformer at his premises. This is the most unreliable power compared to 132kV & 11kV as it is impacted by all the line faults and other issues in the distribution network.
DISTURBANCE AND FAULTS IN EACH 132KV, 11KV, 400 LEVEL:
When the consumer is getting a 132kV connection, it is going to face minimal disturbance from the Grid Network as a 132kV line is most reliable compared to 400V & 11kV networks. The breakdown of power is rare and only occurs due to a National Level fault.
There is usually a 40MVA or 25MVA, 132kV/11kV transformer in the Grid, and all different 11kV customers are connected to this transformer. When any one customer produces a fault or makes heavy switching, all other customers connected to the same transformer would experience its impact. There are more chances of distribution line faults. Thus, the reliability of the 11kV power is less compared to the 132kV line.
Apart from complete blackout, at all levels, consumers can face momentary loss of voltage for the duration of 100-200msec. In addition, 11kV & 400V consumers can also face fluctuation of voltage for a longer duration.
SOLUTION FOR THE POWER QUALITY ISSUES:
Complete Blackout of Grid Supply:
The only solution is to bring alternate power that could be standby Generators together with Solar.
Fluctuation in Voltage of Grid Supply:
It occurs at 11kV or 400V and a possible remedy is to install an Automatic Voltage Regulator.
Momentary Loss in Voltage / Jerk In Grid Supply:
This is a unique problem. Although according to IEEE standards momentary loss of voltage is accepted as inherent behavior of the National Grid. But customer-sensitive machines with VFDs and other Electronic devices can detect this disturbance and stop working.
The most expensive and most reliable solution is installing a Flywheel or Rotary type UPS or Batteries
There are other issues that can happen in customers’ power quality related to current, and these are mostly caused by their own load, these can be addressed by using Active & Passive Filters and capacitors.
GAS GENERATORS:
During Pakistan Economic boom in the early 2000s, gas was available for Industries to set up in-house power plants. We term this as captive Power Generation. Many industries during that era disconnected Grid connections and completely relied on Gas Generators and use them as their prime power source as the power Generation cost was much cheaper compared to National Grid and it was also reliable and stable compared to National Grid.
Gas Generators are available in the size of 1MW, 1.5MW, 2MW, 2.5MW, 3MW, 4.5MW, etc, Industries may use Gas turbines which can be higher in size from 5M, 7.5MW, 10MW, etc
Gas Generators are the source of self-Generated, reliable, and stable power but Industries may face the following issues:
• How power can be made available when the Gas Engine is down due to maintenance or fault?
• How power can be made available when Gas Engines are not running because of the unavailability of Gas?
• How do cater loads which have a specific characteristic that cannot be served with Industrial Gas Generators?
• How can the industry further improve its power generation cost?
HOW POWER CAN BE MADE AVAILABLE WHEN THE GAS ENGINE IS DOWN DUE TO MAINTENANCE OR FAULT?
The customer may install Diesel Generator which runs as Emergency / Standby Power. Let’s say one customer has a load requirement of 6MW and he has 3 x 2MW Gas generators available, he may install one x 1MW Diesel Generator as an Emergency standby. If one Gas Generator is down, some nonessential load will be out of power, and the remaining will be served through standby Diesel generators.
HOW POWER CAN BE MADE AVAILABLE WHEN THE GAS ENGINES ARE NOT RUNNING BECAUSE OF THE UNAVAILABILITY OF GAS?
Many customers had faced this problem in Pakistan, during the winter season especially, they cannot afford a 100% backup arrangement through Diesel Generators, therefore they need to purchase power from the utility Grid, and they only use Grid power when Gas Generators are not available.
In addition, every customer now prefers to install a Solar plant that can support in the daytime. But Solar systems also need the availability of Grid supply on BUS to deliver its output.
HOW TO CATER LOADS WHICH HAVE A SPECIFIC CHARACTERISTIC THAT CAN NOT BE SERVED WITH INDUSTRIAL GAS GENERATORS?
Every industry does its load analysis and if it is known that expensive Gas Generators can be damaged with a certain non-linear load then the customer brings the Grid Power supply in parallel to the Generators and all those variations are catered by Grid Power.
HOW CAN THE INDUSTRY FURTHER IMPROVES ITS POWER GENERATION COST?
This can be done by an efficient Power Generation Control System, where Grid Supply, Gas Generation, Diesel Generation, and now Solar Power are used in the most optimum combinations where operation cost, maintenance cost, and reliability of the system are ensured. We will discuss more in the later part of this article.
DIESEL OR HEAVY FUEL GENERATORS:
They are mostly used as standby, also in some cases of a complete blackout of the plant, Diesel Generators are used to startup, which is why they are also called black start Generators.
The cost of Generating Power through Diesel or HFO is highest compared to Gas or Utility Grid. However, when Gas is not available and the customer cannot get a Grid connection timely or its process cannot bear fluctuation in Grid power, it would be forced to use Diesel or Heavy Fuel Oil Generators.
How multiple Gas and/or Diesel Generators can run in parallel?
• If the customer has only one Generator sufficient for its entire load then it will run stand-alone to serve the load, the technical term used for this application is ISLAND MODE.
• If the customer has two different sizes of Generators, they should be able to share the load according to their capacity. Example – 2MW & 1MW generators should take up to 1.66MW & 0.83MW load respectively out of a total load requirement of 2.5MW. The technical term used for this application is LOAD SHARING.
• However, if the customer has the same two Generators, where 2MW is brand new and 1MW Generator is old, the customer wishes to utilize maximum power Generation from 2MW Generator as it consumes less fuel giving the same power compared to the 1MW engine. Thus out of the 2.5MW load requirement, the brand new will serve 2MW while the old one would cater 0.5MW. The technical term used for this application is BASE LOAD OPERATION (when one Engine run on fixed power KW output in parallel with other Genset)
• Only the minimum number of Generators should run at a time as per the load requirement. For example – if there are 2MW, 2MW & 1MW generators installed and the load requirement is 2.8MW then one 2MW generator should remain OFF. While if the load requirement is 3.5MW then a 1MW generator should remain on standby, the technical term used for this application is LOAD SENSE / LOAD DEMAND MANAGEMENT.
SOLAR POWER
Now, every industry is putting solar power at least to cover 15-20% of the load demand. Although the capital cost of Solar power is much higher than Gas or Diesel Generators. However, its operation cost is almost zero compared to the Gas Generators and the life cycle is much more than Gas or Diesel Generators.
Since solar power is mostly available in the daytime, for a maximum of 8 hours, it is used as a means to reduce overall power Generation Operation costs. However, the customer may continue to require other constant power sources like Gas Generators & Grid to have power available round the clock.
These industrial scale Solar systems are ON Grid type that requires LIVE Energized BUS (either through Grid or Generator) to deliver their power.
It is possible to consume 100% solar output when running with the Grid. Excess power can be exported to National Grid via Net Metering however when Solar is running with only Generators, its output needs to be curtailed according to the loading of Generators which should be more than 30% according to manufacturers’ recommendation.
It is also possible to connect solar power both with Generators & the Grid simultaneously. The figure below shows a typical example of Solar, Grid, and Generators connected together.
WIND POWER:
The wind is another source of Power that is not common as solar used by every industry and is more restricted to the two wind corridors of Dhabeji and Jhimpir Sindh. Most of the wind power plants are used as IPPs for selling power to National Grid. However, some industries do have wind power available for their own use with a mix of other sources of power discussed above.
BATTERY / FLYWHEEL UPS:
Some customers who are running their Gas / Diesel Generators in parallel with the Grid may face a short-term jerk of power from the Grid end. This causes a rate of change of frequency & Vector Jump protection is activated in accordance with the Generator manufacturer’s safety recommendations.
Grid breaker is instantly isolated from the system and if the Generators are not capable enough to bear the extra load then the complete plant can be shut down. In order to avoid a complete blackout. The Central Control system activates load shedding and this will isolate non-critical load to prevent the overloading of Generators.
However, if the customer cannot afford to disconnect power to its load even for a short duration then it has to arrange some backup via flywheel UPS or batteries.
Fly Wheel UPS is an old and expensive solution that can provide back up to 10MW for 10sec while Battery backup for such a high load is possible but not common. And the technology is constantly evaluating and its price is reducing with time.
MICROGRID:
If you have read the article up till now, you would have ample understanding of different sources of power available with any industry, now we understand the concept of Mirco Grid and Central Controlling of different sources of power available with the industry.
HOW DOES THE INDUSTRY MICROGRID UTILIZE THE NATIONAL GRID IN THE PRESENCE OF OTHER AVAILABLE SOURCES OF POWER?
A Mirco Grid can connect or disconnect with National Grid. It is important to note that we cannot vary the parameters of the National Grid Power and we can only give commands to other sources of power (Generators, Solar, wind, etc) to adjust its parameters according to National Grid.
MICROGRID SOLUTION OFFERED BY ENERCON SYSTEMS:
Enercon micro-grid control solution is the answer to all the above-discussed issues.
As we have learned National Grid has interruption problems. Gas is infrequently available while solar only works for 10 hrs. So every industry must-have mix of different power sources available at its disposal.
Enercon Micro-grid control ensures that the customer can run parallel and switch between the National grid, solar, generator, wind, HFO, and any other source of power as and when required considering reliability, availability, and cost factors.
Solar being renewable and green energy must be fully consumed first and other sources of power can be utilized in parallel with it. During the nighttime, other sources of power are to be used according to their cost & availability.
The micro-grid solution being offered by Enercon systems is special in the way that it is designed and integrated with full flexibility of different manufacturers’ specifications and brands for solar inverters, Generators, wind turbine inverters, etc.
Enercon micro-grid control is compatible with different communication protocols and third-party devices for easy access to information at local and remote locations.
Our objective is to achieve generation cost optimization, reduce production downtime and ensure the Mico-grid system is implemented with minimum possible modification in the existing system or implementation of the new system with future expansion and customization provision.