Constance K. Mwayuli graduates with Masters in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the 63rd Graduation ceremony of the University of Nairobi, on 25th September, 2020. Mwayuli is an Electrical Engineer at Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Ltd. (KETRACO), Operation and Maintenance Department. She has specialized in High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) and is part of the team working to realize the first HVDC Transmission System in the region. She received her Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the same university, in August 2012. Mwayuli is a member of Engineers Board of Kenya (EBK). Her research interests include Smart Grid Technology, HVDC Transmission System, Evolutionary Algorithms (EA) and Cybersecurity for Electric Power System.
Project Summary
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.
Links
https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=JHkPElMAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&gmla=AJsN-F4k2Xj5oHBxXAYa2-QeUXNhkSIcSRljTxGYOjjXhrvme2Do8O4sUSLc0DLmjIQUygDfbY2ZrbYt4JOZlVZB3HF6WcESH80sPvh_jZpOif-KFhlKH8o
