Masters Candidate

Performance evaluation of Pedestrian Facilities at Donholm Interchange along Outering Road Nairobi

Research Supervisors

Prof. Sixtus Mwea, Dr.Osano

Under Vision 2030, the Kenyan government recognized transportation infrastructure as enabling fast economic growth. The development of transport infrastructure is fundamental to socio-economic transformation. The study adopted the Highway Capacity Manual (HCM)-based LOS Method and the Pedestrian Level Of Service (PLOS) Model. The study earmarked a section of Outer Ring Road, this being the Manyanja and Donholm overpasses for its field data collection process. This study adopted direct observation (manual count) to collect data on pedestrian traffic on the sidewalks of the study areas. From the study 14,012 pedestrians used the overpass on Monday which was the lowest tally while 16,431 pedestrians were counted on Thursday which was the highest tally. The average time taken to cross the overpass of 60 m long was one-minute meaning that the walking speed 1m/sec which is slightly lower than the normal walking speeds of pedestrians in walkways. The spaces provided per pedestrian was found to be 0.04m2 which according to Hcm Model 2010 is described as LOS F and whose score is less than 25. This score represents the worst pedestrian facility at peak hours. This study therefore recommends construction of two-foot bridges of minimum 2 meters width parallel to the overpasses on both directions which was serious design omission. The foot bridges will improve the performance of the overpasses to the desirable peak period pedestrian flow of LOS C. Further recommendations include provision of lighting and signage at the overpasses.

Assessment of factors which contribute to Non-Revenue Water in Kenya and their mitigation; the case of Meru Water Supply.

Research Supervisors

Prof. Odira and Prof. Nyangeri

The availability of water resources has been undergoing reduction with time as a result of rising water demand from rapid growth in population, environmental degradation, and irrigated agriculture in the rural areas and industries in the cities and major towns. This has strained the available water sources leading to failure by water supplies to meet the current water demand resulting into water rationing as a way of managing the supply. In addition, there has been low funding resulting into low coverage presently standing at around 56% while the population growth is ever increasing.
The study aimed at assessing the factors which cause Non-Revenue Water in Kenya based on case study of Meru Water Supply Scheme. In addition, the study aimed at evaluating the water balance by establishing the levels of all components of Non-Revenue Water and Revenue Water in the scheme. It also assessed the relationship between pressure and leakages and lastly analysed the economic level of leakage for Meru water supply scheme and strategies to mitigate against Non-Revenue Water.

The research findings revealed that high Non-Revenue Water in Meru Water Scheme depends on the organizational practices like operation and maintenance techniques, methodology of repair works, connection and disconnection practices, lack of as built drawings, illegal connections and organizational culture. Through evaluation of water balance, it was found that the level of Non- Revenue Water in Meru Water Scheme was approximately 17% as at March 2016.

Genetic Algorithm-Based Residential Appliance Scheduling Using the Smart Grid Concept for Optimal Grid Management

Project Supervisors

Prof. J.M Mbuthia

Prof. Cyrus Wekesa

Despite numerous creations by man, the electric grid remains one of the most intricate and largest of machines ever made. National Academy of Engineering has since declared electrification done in the world as 20th century’s most remarkable engineering feat. Thus on the very outset it is wise, even expected, creativity and continuous innovation be invested in it. Environmental concerns, challenge of peak load management due to exponential increase of energy consumption, ripeness of IT are among factors that necessitate need for wise electricity use. Further there are forecasts from various sources that significantly more energy will need to be generated. Electricity consumption for the U.S has been predicted to rise by 41% by 2030. Utilities are hence compelled to find empirical ways of meeting the fast growing, dynamic demand including connection of futuristic loads like plug in electric cars. They are bound to consider intensified management of existing power system network in lieu of the conventional one of physically reinforcing existing grid. If successfully done, more earnings can be gained for reduced investment costs. Smart grid is a much more dynamic network with ‘self-awareness’ as it is able to supervise ‘movement’ of electricity within itself and react appropriately vastly optimizing grid use.

This thesis presents timely idea of SG, which rightly demands full participation of electricity consumers through demand side management (DSM). The problem involves electrical appliance scheduling through the concept of disaggregating consumption of individual appliances for a methodical response strategy. Appliance scheduling problem is solved using a 1970s invention, Genetic Algorithm. Considering energy consumption of 8 consumers in a typical urban Kenyan household, approximately 5660.5KW in a day is able to be reclaimed from existing grid by the utility. This means worthwhile virtual grid capacity is currently in existence, that has the potential to neutralize need for physical grid expansion.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF SOLAR PV INTEGRATION INTO EXISTING DIESEL MINI-GRID

Research Supervisors

1. Eng. Dr. D.O Mbuge - Department of Environmental & Bio-systems Engineering
2. Dr. M.P Musau - Department of Electrical &Information Engineering

Renewable Energy (RE) is traditionally considered to be clean and free. However, in these last decades, RE related issues are becoming more and more significant and involves the rational use of RE resource and the related environmental impact due to the emission of pollutants. Therefore, there is pressing need for developing RE Technologies (RET), especially solar photovoltaic (PV) to cope with the challenges of energy shortage and environmental degradation. Integration of solar PV into existing Diesel (D) mini grid has both positive and negative environmental effects. The claim that RE is clean need to be verified during utilization, and thus, the net environmental impacts need to be quantified.

In this thesis, environmental effects of D-PV hybrid deployment were reviewed and then the emissions evaluated using HOMER software. Health and Ecosystems effects were further analyzed using Modified Recipe Model of the Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA).  A case study of Lodwar Town in Turkana County Kenya was used.

Simulated results reveal that deployment of hybrid Diesel-PV (D-PV) enables 77% decrease in net emission levels at 60% PV penetration which is the optimal scenario. Use of pure PV reduces net health effects (H) by 32% while D-PV when applied optimally results in 88% decrease. When a pure PV system was simulated, the average ecosystem effects became 73% while for the hybrid system, such effect are 88%. 

Thus, the hybrid D-PV system is preferred in reducing environmental effects.

EVALUATING ANAEROBIC DIGESTION TECHNOLOGY IN REDUCING THE QUANTITY OF SOLID WASTE: A CASE STUDY OF KIGALI DUMPSITE

PROJECT SUPERVISOR:

Dr.Eng. Muthumbi Waweru

Rwanda is a developing country where the waste generated from households continues to increase due to extensive urbanization and development. Biodegradable organic matter constitutes a great portion of Municipal solid waste and comprises organic material which can be broken down by bacteria like paper, card, green waste, food waste, miscellaneous items with an organic element and fine materials. The research mainly evaluated the potential of anaerobic digestion technology in reducing the quantity of solid waste destined to the dumpsite in Kigali city. The research evaluates the viability of using biodegradable waste meant to the land where the biogas is produced and undertaking its cost & benefit analysis for chemical, physical and biological characteristics of municipal solids waste on anaerobic digestion technology. The quantity of municipal waste generated in Kigali city was used for designing the biodigester required. The research results indicates the variation of weight percentage of waste: Plastics (4%) Paper (3%) Cartons (3%) Glasses (2%) Metal (1%) Biodegradable Organic wastes (75%), others (clothes, shoes, bones, hair, Pampers.)14%. The organic waste was found to be more generated with 500.000kg and 73% fractions, and the organic waste produces 457 L/kg DM of methane and the overall assessed value of methane was 51,384,375 L with the electricity derived from the methane of 180,873 KWh which is 54% of the daily demand. The volume of the biodigester was found to be 58,065 m3. Based on the energy recovered, revealed that cities will benefit this research for the population demand for the increased electricity.