IN-PERSON: State-of-the-Art Power System Design and Implementation for a Missionary Complex in a Remote Village in Africa.

#humanitarian, #Afrrica, #Power #Systems #life
Share

Africa is an enigma. Rich in energy related natural resources and yet 700 million (38%) are without electricity. This is the result of a lack of investment in both power generation and distribution systems. And what electricity is available is unreliable for days at a time. Diesel generators are the de facto standard for both backup in electrified areas and primary generation in remote areas.

This presentation describes both: 1) the system engineering design and management processes and 2) the installed hardware and software that resulted in the complete tear out of an existing diesel system and successful design and rebuild of a state-of-the-art electrical system for a Christian missionary complex located in a remote region of Tanzania. The site, consisting of 100+ buildings, provides secondary education, vocational training, teacher certification, a hospital, and nursing and clinical training to the surrounding, mostly Muslim, population.

Prior to the renovation effort the site was powered by a diesel generator in conjunction with a very limited solar array/battery backup emergency power for the hospital. Key factors driving the modernization effort were: 1) limited hours of site power due to high diesel fuel costs (no power at night), 2) undersized overhead wiring resulting in electrical fires, 3) unreliable fuel delivery during the rainy season and 4) no expansion capability. The modernization effort resulted in a reliable and cost-effective solution to the site’s current and future power needs thru the utilization of a solar array, batteries, diesel, Utility and a microgrid controller that turns the power sources on and off to minimize energy costs.


  Date and Time

  Location

  Hosts

  Registration


  • Date: 27 Sep 2022
  • Time: 05:30 PM to 07:00 PM
  • All times are (UTC-06:00) Mountain Time (US & Canada)
  • Add_To_Calendar_icon Add Event to Calendar
  • 4110 North Academy Blvd (Old Chicago)
  • Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • United States 80918
  • Contact Event Hosts
  • Starts 18 August 2022 08:09 PM
  • Ends 26 September 2022 08:09 PM
  • All times are (UTC-06:00) Mountain Time (US & Canada)
  • No Admission Charge

  Speakers

Russ Bogardus, PE, Retired Russ Bogardus, PE, Retired

Topic:

State-of-the-Art Power System Design and Implementation for a Missionary Complex in a Remote Village in Africa.

Biography:

Russ Bogardus graduated with a B.S.E.E. from Union College (Tau Beta Phi, Eda Nappa Nu) (Schenectady, NY) and a M.S.E.E from the University of Rochester (Rochester, NY). His courses centered on system and control theory and signal and state estimation. He spent the next 40 years working for IBM Federal System (25 years) and Lockheed Martin Mission Systems (15 years) as a system engineer and chief engineer His projects included submarine detection and tracking, terrain following radar, and the GPS Command and Control System.  After retiring he became a P.E. in the state of Colorado and volunteers with Engineering Ministries International designing electrical infrastructure for missionaries in the world’s poorest countries. 

Address:United States




Agenda

Venue:  Old Chicago, 4110 North Academy Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80918.  Pikes Peak Section members and their guests can order food from the menu and will be funded by the Section.

Introduction

Presentation

Questions