ghanaopendata/ghanaian-research-english huggingface dataset:
Design and fabrication of machine that converts plastic bottle - PET - to 3D printing filament

This project focuses on the design and fabrication of a machine capable of converting plastic bottles into 3D printing filament, addressing the growing concern of plastic waste on campus and beyond. The machine utilizes a thermoplastic extrusion process to recycle polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, transforming them into usable filament for 3D printing applications. The design process involved a thorough analysis of user requirements and constraints, ensuring a functional and user-friendly system. Key components, including the heating mechanism, extrusion nozzle, and filament winding system, were meticulously tested and evaluated. The results demonstrated that the machine successfully produces filament with consistent diameter and adequate mechanical properties, meeting the necessary specifications for 3D printing. This initiative not only offers a practical solution for recycling plastic waste but also serves as a model for sustainable practices in educational institutions and communities. Future work will focus on expanding material compatibility, improving energy efficiency, and enhancing the automation and safety features of the machine. This project represents a significant step towards reducing plastic waste and promoting environmental sustainability through innovative technology.

Source: Ashesi
Design and implementation of a CAN Bus data logger with multiple communication interfaces for vehicles

Modern vehicles have been equipped with electronic control units (ECUs) to control the electrical systems of cars. Although this system is built for the car's performance and provides manufacturers data to improve future designs of vehicles, it also presents an opportunity for vehicle data to be retrieved and analyzed to manage the car better. These ECUs can provide information about the car's health status, readings of various sensors, and several vehicle parameters. The data can be analyzed to determine driving behaviours that can improve fuel consumption rates and gas emissions of the vehicle. The data can also be used to diagnose vehicle faults. This project built an embedded device capable of reading and sending vehicle parameters to a remote database for future analysis. The device interfaces with the ISO15765 protocol, one of the five protocols of the Onboard Diagnostic System (OBD-II) available in all modern vehicles, to read data from the car. ISO15765 implements the standards of sending data on the Controller Area Network (CAN), a communication protocol for ECUs in vehicles. The data is transferred to a remote database or a mobile phone through Bluetooth when the Internet is unavailable. The data in the database is displayed in a mobile app. This project proves that vehicle data from ECUs can be transferred to a remote database through a wireless embedded device.

Source: Ashesi
Design and implementation of a charcoal briquetting machine

The demand for energy is currently competing with the alarming rate of climate change. In many parts of the world, especially Africa, charcoal has been the dominant fuel for domestic heating and cooking. In Ghana, rapid population growth has led to increased dependence on unsustainably produced charcoal, which consequently affects forest vegetation cover This report presents the design and fabrication of a semi-automated charcoal briquetting machine with a capacity of 200 kg per hour. This machine aims to support briquette-making businesses in Ghana in mass-producing briquettes, thereby reducing the need for cutting down trees for traditional charcoal production. SolidWorks (CAD software) was used for designing and performing static and fatigue analysis of major mechanical components, while CES software was utilized to select suitable materials for fabricating the machine. The CES software was also used to select the suitable material for the fabrication of the machine. For the briquette production, coconut fiber and cassava starch are the raw biomass waste and binder used respectively. The estimated cost of the briquetting machine is approximately GHC15,010, making it significantly cheaper than current briquetting machines available globally.

Source: Ashesi
Design and implementation of a cryptocurrency-based payment gateway for online merchants

Online merchants always face challenges when it comes to receiving payments for their products. Such challenges increases when they need to accept multiple currencies through international transfers. These challenges can be attributed to the fluctuations between currencies, multiple intermediaries involved in international transfers which increases transaction costs and security risks. Traditional payments systems are often quite expensive due to these complexities involve in local and internal transfers. Start-ups and small businesses are greatly affected by these challenges. As such, they need payment systems with lower transaction costs without compromising security risks. Cutting-edge technologies like blockchain have made possible the existence of such systems. Blockchain powered payments systems using digital currencies (cryptocurrencies) can help reduce or even mitigate the need to accept multiple currencies for online merchants. This results to lower transaction costs and reduced security risks especially for international transfers. Hence, this paper focuses on designing and implementing a blockchain based payment system for online merchants.

Source: Ashesi
Design and implementation of a digitally controlled analog modular synthesizer for teaching and learning signal processing

None available Excerpt from Introduction: The aim of this project is to design and build a digitally controlled analog synthesizer for teaching and learning systems courses. The scope [of] this projects covers the implemented design of a digitally controlled analog synthesizer. This comprises the power supply unit, digitally controlled oscillator, voltage-controlled filter, voltage-controlled amplifier, attack release generator, and amplifier modules.

Source: Ashesi
Design and implementation of a dust clearning machine to reduce dust soiling on solar PV panels

Renewable Energy (RE) has massive potential to meet the world s energy demand. Renewable Energy Technologies (RETs) are how RE can be harnessed to supplement energy requirements. Solar Photovoltaic modules are some of the most widely used RETs globally. Natural environmental factors such as Dust soiling tend to reduce the efficiency of Solar Photovoltaic modules by reducing their output power. In Ghana, residential and industrial settings aim to solve problems with dust soiling on solar panels by hiring workers to clean solar panels manually. This method, however, raises concerns regarding safety and labour costs. This project seeks to design and implement a dust-cleaning machine to reduce dust soiling on solar panels to improve operational efficiency. This would provide an effective solution to dust soiling, resolve safety concerns, and eliminate labour costs. The paper methodologically sequences the design requirements through major design decisions, material selection, analytical and numerical comparisons, prototyping, and testing of the proposed remedy to the dust soiling problem. The fabricated system for a 20 W size solar panel measured a cleaning rate of 0.016 m2/s and 0.018 m2/s for forward and reversed motions, respectively. The machine s sprinklers also sprayed 6.65 cm3 of water for every cleaning second. Per the design proposal, thus for ten 20-watt mounted solar panels, the machine consumes about 12.1% of the rated power of the solar panels. Finally, the dust cleaning machine yielded average cleaning effectiveness of 86.2% when using only the solar panel cleaning brush to clean dust from the panel surface.

Source: Ashesi
Design and implementation of a flywheel-battery hybrid energy storage system for microgrids

The goal of the flywheel-battery hybrid energy storage system (HESS) is to enhance the performance of the flywheel energy storage system (FESS) by increasing its energy density to enable it to discharge for long periods in a smart grid, specifically a microgrid. This system aims to supplement the power generated by renewable energy sources (RESs) and balance the load demand in the power grid. The user requirements for the flywheel-battery HESS include ease of use, and capacity to store large amounts of energy. The general system design of the flywheel-battery HESS includes an AC power source to operate the motor/generator (M/G) unit, which rotates the flywheel. The FESS is designed to supplement the power grid when there is a drop in the system's frequency, and the BESS kicks in to continue to stabilize the frequency back to its original 50 Hz when the FESS has exhausted its discharge. The switching between the two storage systems is controlled by a programmable logic controller (PLC) that gives way to the storage system with higher power output. The FESS is given priority over the BESS due to its high-power density and fast response. Additionally, a pulley system with varying diameters is used for speed conversion, particularly during the generation mode, to increase the speed produced by the FESS. The FESS operates at low speeds (<10,000 rpm), and the selection of journal bearings influences the other design specifications around the FESS, such as the flywheel shaft's.

Source: Ashesi
Design and implementation of a greenhouse monitoring system using a ground robot

This project focuses on designing, constructing and implementing a greenhouse environmental monitoring robot. The system aims to enhance greenhouse farming by integrating Internet of Things (IoT) devices to precisely monitor environmental parameters such as temperature, humidity, CO2 levels and light intensity. The robot is built on a durable alucoboard aluminium composite chassis with dimensions of 45cm x 25cm x 8 cm, ensuring efficient navigation through greenhouse rows. It employs ESP32 microcontrollers for data collection and transmission using the ESP-NOW protocol. Data is transmitted to a base station and displayed on a PHP and HTML-based web interface for real-time monitoring. The project also explores the development of an autonomous navigation system using line-following and obstacle-detection capabilities, with data stored and managed in an SQL database via PHP MyAdmin. Comprehensive testing in a simulated greenhouse-like environment demonstrated the system's effectiveness in maintaining a stable power supply, reliable data transmission and accurate environmental monitoring.

Source: Ashesi
Design and implementation of a low-cost and portable noise masking system

Noise pollution has been given more awareness because of its adverse impacts on human health and comfort. The portable low-frequency noise reduction device built in this project can effectively solve low-frequency noise pollution problems using active noise cancellation. Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) technology has been a tremendous challenge in modern science. The main reason for ANC's slow adoption is its higher initial cost compared to passive methods. Thus, considering this, this project seeks to build a costeffective and attractive ANC system to overcome this economic hurdle using essential hardware resources such as microphones, amplifiers, and speakers. ANC technology uses the destructive interference principle of waves to cancel out a signal by superposition with its inverted signal. This capstone report presents the possible results of implementing a cost-effective ANC system to facilitate an enclosure's sound level. Simulations in Proteus and Multisim and hardware testing results reveal that the noise can be decreased by 6 - 17 dB for low frequencies. However, the system attenuated sounds of low frequencies (less than or equal to 1kHz) much better than high frequencies. The noise source position and movement, intensity, and frequency of the noise signal influence these sound effects.

Source: Ashesi
Design and implementation of a low-cost vehicle tracking system

Location-based services have become very popular globally and with the increasing rate in car theft in Ghana, it is necessary that such services be implemented. Vehicle tracking is an application of the Internet of Things (IoT) proposed in aiding in the recovery of stolen vehicles. This thesis presents a detailed description of the development of a low cost real-time GPS/GSM vehicle tracking system based on an Arduino Uno board. The system uses GPS services in determining the location of the vehicle and GSM services in transmitting received data to a web server. Data is pushed to a database to be stored and then displayed in a web application using Google Maps API. The system includes a location restriction feature with email alerts.

Source: Ashesi
Design and implementation of a microgrid energy management system

The increasing popularity of Renewable Energy Sources has led to their widespread adoption in recent years. However, their high cost and intermittent nature pose challenges to their efficient and reliable use. Microgrids have emerged as a viable solution to address these challenges and improve energy management for maximum economic benefit and reliability. However, the intermittent nature of some Renewable Energy Sources such as solar and wind power can result in fluctuations in power supply, which can negatively impact the microgrid's stability and reliability. Due to the need for more efficient power management to derive maximum economic benefit and reliability, the development of energy management systems (EMS) for microgrids has become a critical area of research. This project presents the design, implementation, and testing of an EMS for a microgrid using a fuzzy inference system (FIS) to optimize the power flow and control the frequency of the microgrid. The system was developed using MATLAB/Simulink, and its performance was validated through simulations and real-world experiments on a microgrid testbed. The results showed that the developed EMS was able to optimize the power flow, stabilize the frequency, and improve the system's reliability and efficiency. Future work includes the implementation of remote monitoring and control, cybersecurity measures, and the migration of the FIS model to a microcontroller-based platform for real-time operation. The developed EMS has the potential to contribute to the development of more efficient, reliable, and sustainable microgrids for both off-grid and ongrid applications.

Source: Ashesi
Design and implementation of a microgrid in Ouagadougou - Burkina Faso and implementation of wind emulator

This capstone project aims to design and implement a microgrid system utilizing renewable energy sources to address the energy challenges faced by the population of Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso. The microgrid design utilizes solar panels and a wind turbine to generate electricity, and HomerPro software is used to optimize the microgrid system for optimal arrangement and performance. A wind emulator is implemented in the lab to study the behavior of a Wind Energy Conversion System. Simulations and tests were conducted to evaluate the cost and the microgrid's performance under different scenarios. The results showed that the system could provide reliable and sustainable electricity to Ouagadougou's population. This project demonstrates the feasibility and benefits of using microgrids and renewable energy sources to promote a more sustainable future and address the energy challenges rural areas like Ouagadougou face. By providing a practical solution to the energy needs of Ouagadougou, this project can potentially improve the standard of living and economic development of the community.

Source: Ashesi
Design and implementation of a mini-wind turbine for powering streetlights

This project is on designing and implementing a mini wind turbine system for powering streetlights. It addresses the growing demand for sustainably energy solutions in urban areas. The main objective is to leverage wind energy as the power source to reduce reliance on traditional sources and provide an alternative source consistent for street lighting even during the power outages. The system is designed to harness wind energy and convert it to electrical power, which charges the battery when the battery status is low. It can also be used as a direct supply for powering the streetlight. The performance of the system is analysed using a polynomial regression model to predict the voltage generated at varying speeds. An extrapolation method was used to estimate and forecast the voltage values for wind speeds that could not be attained in the environment where the system was mounted. Results indicate a relationship between the wind speed and voltage output, with higher wind speeds resulting in increased generation. During high wind speeds, the wind turbine is observed to generate sufficient power, while at lower wind speeds, the battery may be used as a backup. The project demonstrates the feasibility of using wind energy as power for streetlighting systems and the potential for integrating renewable energy into power systems of urban areas. Future works include real-time monitoring of power parameters, optimising turbine design for maximum power point tracking (MPPT) and scaling to accommodate multiple streetlights. The project contributes to sustainable urban development by providing a reliable and environmentally friendly approach to street lighting.

Source: Ashesi
Design and implementation of a smart grain storage monitoring system

Grain post-harvest losses due to deterioration during storage remains a prevalent challenge. The changes in environmental conditions if not monitored, can cause fluctuations in grain storage bins' temperature and humidity, leading to decay and infestation. Even though automatic grain monitoring systems have been developed they are not affordable. This project seeks to design an efficient and low-cost smart grain monitoring system to reduce unnecessary grain losses. To monitor grain conditions, the system employs temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide sensors. Furthermore, this system employs machine learning classification algorithms to predict grain quality status (good or bad) based on sensor readings. The project implements the system prototype with 2 sensor nodes that communicate to a gateway through HC-12 transceiver modules.

Source: Ashesi
Design And Implementation Of A Solar-Powered Vaccine Cooling System Using Variable Speed Drive Technology For Improved Energy Efficiency

Access to reliable vaccine storage remains a challenge in off-grid and low-resource communities. This project presents a solar-powered vaccine cooling system with Variable Frequency Drive (VFD) technology and real-time IoT monitoring. Designed to maintain the WHO-recommended 28C range with a 5C setpoint, the system ensures energy efficiency and reliability for use in areas with unreliable grid supply. The solution integrates solar PV with battery storafering a sustainable and scalable approach to vaccine storage in underserved areas while saving energy consumption.

Source: Ashesi
Design and implementation of a speed detection system using radar and image processing

The issue of vehicle accidents occurring on the roads on a daily basis, which only seems to be increased by the minute is what this paper researches and seeks to tackle. With the simple technology that has been made available globally, a cost-effective system can be developed to fight overspeeding, reduce road accidents and save lives. As a result, in this project, an Automatic Number Plate Recognition program and a web service for speed detection were implemented. This was done with the aim of monitoring frequently used roads, and those areaswhere the accidents normally take place in order to sanction drivers guilty of driving above set speeding limits. This made use of machine learning-based Optical Character Recognition program couples with a web application to issue speeding fines dynamically to offenders via email. In the course of this project a validation accuracy of 97% was achieved for the training done with Nigerian License plate characters. The mailing was fully functionally at the end of the project. Though, a few hitches were experienced on the license plate detection phase as some license plate shapes vary slightly. This proved the need to improve the license plate detection to detect modded license plates in addition to the regular ones.

Source: Ashesi
Design and implementation of a tomato leaf blight disease detection system using machine learning and image processing

Tomato production in Sub-Saharan Africa can be plagued by a fungal disease known as leaf blight. The tomato blight disease can have devastating effects on smallholder farmers if measures are not taken early. Currently, the most common method of leaf disease diagnosis is an estimation by human judgment. This method is very error-prone and can be quite tedious given the volume of plants on a typical tomato farm. This research investigates the creation of a faster disease detection method using image processing and machine learning. Similar solutions in the past that employ these technologies typically have to connect to an offsite server to perform all processing and diagnosis. This project explores the deployment of compressed, quantized models on small edge devices which can produce accurate results at a significantly low cost. The tomato blight disease is characterized by brown leaf spots. The system could classify a diseased leaf with brown spots from a healthy leaf with an accuracy of 90% ± 12.32.

Source: Ashesi
Design And Implementation Of A Vapor Compression Refrigeration System For Laboratory Experiments

This project details the design and implementation of a vapor compression refrigeration system tailored for laboratory experiments at Ashesi University. Recognizing the need for affordable, modular, and educational refrigeration systems, the project sought to bridge the gap between theoretical thermodynamics and practical application. The system employs eco-friendly refrigerants, a compact scroll compressor, capillary tubes for expansion control, and real-time sensor monitoring integrated with an Arduino-based platform. Key performance targets included achieving an evaporator temperature of 2.5ational performance assessments. The developed system provides an affordable, scalable, and effective teaching tool, enriching students

Source: Ashesi
Design And Implementation Of A Vapor Compression Refrigeration System For Laboratory Experiments

This project details the design and implementation of a vapor compression refrigeration system tailored for laboratory experiments at Ashesi University. Recognizing the need for affordable, modular, and educational refrigeration systems, the project sought to bridge the gap between theoretical thermodynamics and practical application. The system employs eco-friendly refrig- erants, a compact scroll compressor, capillary tubes for expansion control, and real-time sen- sor monitoring integrated with an Arduino-based platform. Key performance targets included achieving an evaporator temperature of 2.5C, a condenser temperature of 50C, a cooling ca- pacity of at least 90 W, and a coefficient of and opera- tional performance assessments. The developed system provides an affordable, scalable, and effective teaching tool, enriching students

Source: Ashesi