www.covenantuniversity.edu.

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Raising a new Generation of Leaders

ICSSD 2019 PRESENTATION

The Prospects of Virtual Laboratories in Engineering Education

across Africa – A Case Study in Electrical Engineering

Presented By: ADENUGBA FAVOUR, ADESANYA AYOKUNLE

Department of Electrical and Information Engineering
Covenant University, Sango Ota, Ogun State.
Outline

• Introduction
• Virtual Laboratories
• LabVIEW Software Package
• Prospects of Virtual Laboratories
• Conclusions

2
Introduction

• Contrary to popular opinion,

research has proven that
education is expensive, but it
still remains a vital driver of a
country’s socioeconomic and
technological development
[1].

3
Introduction (Contd.)

• A lot of African countries are

underdeveloped owing to the
lack of good education.
Therefore, the need for
alternative means to educate
the future generation arises
[2].

4
Introduction (Contd.)

• In Engineering a lot of
laboratory work and
apparatus are required,
whereas only a few teaching
institutions can afford this.

5
Introduction (Contd.)

• The analysis of induction

machines is very expensive to
experiment on in the lab, and
this machine is the most
widely used in the industry
[3].

6
Introduction (Contd.)
• Induction motors are most
commonly used in many
industrial applications [2]:
Why?
• Efficiency
• Lower cost and weight,
• Reliability,
• Easy maintenance [4]
7
Introduction (Contd.)

• This educational gap means

that graduates are under
equipped and unable to
perform optimally in the
industry without rigorous
training exercise.

8
Virtual Laboratories

• Educational gaps can be

bridged to a reasonable
extent by the use of virtual
laboratories, simulation
software packages, and
design software.

9
Virtual Laboratories (Contd.)

• The use of design/simulation

software is not new.
For example:
• Matrix Laboratory (MATLAB)
[5] [6],
• Finite Element Analysis (FEA),
• Motor-CAD [7],
• Pspice etc.
10
LabVIEW Software Package

• LabVIEW is a popular system

design software that provides
an environment for
development and visual
programming [3].

11
LabVIEW Software Package (Contd.)

• LabVIEW easy, user-friendly

and it makes the simulation
process simpler.

• Information and data can be

passed and necessary results
can be generated based on
the inputs given.
12
LabVIEW Software Package (Contd.)

• The results can be presented

in graphical form, multi-
dimensional plots or simple
numerical representations.

13
LabVIEW Software Package (Contd.)

• Mathematical expressions are

modelled in LabVIEW where
the components are arranged
appropriately and assembled
based on the appropriate
requirements.

14
LabVIEW Software Package (Contd.)

• Some of these features

mentioned have made it very
suitable for electrical
machines simulations, and
analysis.

15
torque-speed characteristics of induction
motor simulation

16
Prospects of Virtual Laboratories

• The most important

characteristics of induction
motors are obtained from
their test curves as these
curves have distinct and
defined shapes.

17
Graphical representations from LabVIEW

Torque-speed characteristics curve Output power vs Torque

Output power vs Efficiency Power factor vs Efficiency

18
Prospects of Virtual Laboratories

• The results and characteristics

curves obtained compare
accurately with that of a
functional motor as seen from
textbooks and laboratory
experimentations.

19
Prospects of Virtual Laboratories

• This proves that the software

is capable of accurately
modelling and simulating the
behavior and characteristics of
an induction motor.

2
0
Conclusions

• The results obtained shows

that LabVIEW can be used to
simulate and obtain
performance characteristics of
an induction motor.

21
Conclusions (Contd.)

• It is therefore seen that a lot

can be gained by exposing
students to virtual laboratories
where finance become a
constraint in securing the
state-of-the-art laboratory
equipment.
22
Conclusions (Contd.)

• The use of software laboratory

packages can significantly
place African students at par
with their counterparts in the
developed countries.

23
References
[1] C. M. Ong, Dynamic Simulation of Electric Machinery Using Matlab/Simulink, Upper
Saddle: Prentice Hall PTR, 1998.
[2] R. A. Jabbar, "Simulation of Electrical Machines Laboratory using LabVIEW," in
International Conference on Computer, Electrical, and Systems Science, and Engineering,
World Academy of Science Engineering and Technology, 2010.
[3] E. Ramprasath and P. Manojkumar, "Modelling and Analysis of Induction Motor using
LabVIEW," International Journal of Power Electronics and Drive System (IJPEDS), vol. V, no.
3, pp. 344-354, 2015
[4] M. Aderiano da Silva, "Rotor Bar Fault Monitoring method based on Analysis of Air-Gap
Torques of Induction Motor," IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics, pp. 2274-2283,
2013.
[5] K. M. Yushaizad Y., "Modeling, Simulation and Analysis of Induction Motor for Electric
Vehicle Application," International Journal of Engineering & Technology, pp. 145-150, 2018.
[6 ]B. D. Pratyusha and S. Sudhangshu, "Dynamic Model Analysis of Three Phase Induction
Motor Using MATLAB/Simulink," International Journal of Scientific & Engineering Research,
pp. 572-577, 2016
[7] A. Aderibigbe, I. Samuel, A. Ogunjuyigbe and R. Ayodele, "The performance of a 3-Phase
Induction Machine under Unbalance Voltage Regime," Journal of Engineering Science and
Technology Review, pp. 136 - 143, 2017.

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 Thank you
for Listening