Automation and Power Electronics Laboratory (eACCESS-APEL)
Supported by the Erasmus+ Programmed of the European Union: Capacity Building within the Field of Higher Education eACCESS Project number: 610041-EPP-1-2019-1-PL-EPPKA2-CBHE-JP
(EU-Asia Collaboration for accessible Education in Smart Power Systems)
Purpose
Under Pillar III in Erasmus+ Capacity Building for Higher Education, eACCESS project, Kantipur Engineering College has installed Automation Laboratory and Power Electronics Laboratory. Automation laboratory will help to enrich the knowledge and understanding of undergraduates, technician and automation professionals on the field of automation. Power Electronics laboratory will help for laboratory exercises on different subject like Power Electronic, Advance Electronics, Basic Electronics Engineering and Electronics Devices and Circuit.
Equipment and description
Automation Laboratory
Automation laboratory consist of PLC, HMI, SCADA, switchgears, sensors, VFDs and robotic arm. Four sets of Siemens 1214C PLC training kit and four set of two EX2 Delta PLC DIY set with HMI has been installed at KEC.
Switchgears
In an automation laboratory, switchgears are essential components that help control, protect, and manage electrical circuits and equipment. These components ensure the safe and efficient operation of electrical systems. Major Equipment under this sections are Push button switch (NO and NC), Emergency Switch, Relay (AC and DC), Timer, Counter (Up and Down), Indicators, Proximity sensors, MCBs, Contractor, Temperature and Controller. These equipments are used to demonstrate the automation without using controller.
PLC training kit with HMI
The PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) training kit with HMI (Human Machine Interface) is a comprehensive educational package designed to teach individuals about industrial automation and control systems using Siemens technology (Siemens 1214C). It combines a PLC, an HMI, and various accessories to provide hands-on experience in programming, configuring, and operating automated systems. The SIMATIC STEP 7 Basic programming environment has been installed on each PC used for PLC programming.
PLC DIY Set
A PLC DIY set is a workbench that contains components and resources for building and experimenting with a basic PLC (Delta EX2) and HMI -based automation system. It’s designed for educational purposes, and individuals interested in learning about PLC architectures, connections and wiring. Free software of Delta PLC has been installed on the portable laptop.
Variable Frequency Drive (VFD)
Variable Frequency Drive is an electronic device used to control the speed and torque of an electric motor by varying the frequency and voltage supplied to the motor. VFDs are commonly used in industrial and commercial applications to achieve energy savings, precise control, and improved efficiency in motor-driven systems.
Robotic Arm
Six axes Robotic Arm is a type of industrial robot that has six rotational joints, enabling it to move and manipulate objects in a highly flexible and complex manner. Each joint corresponds to a degree of freedom, allowing the robot to perform a wide range of tasks with precision and versatility.
Power Supply
While performing the different experiments on VFD and switchgear, two power supply unit has been installed. Each unit is capable to generate variable and fixed single phase AC (0-220V) , three phase AC and Variable DC (0-30V) supply.
SCADA
SIMATIC WinCC RT Professional, SCADA system with a capacity of 512 tags has been installed on one of the PC. It offers an innovative, scalable process-visualization system with numerous high-performance functions for monitoring automated processes.
Power Electronics Laboratory
The Power electronics laboratory consist of four set of power electronic trainer kit for the study of characteristics of Power electronics circuit elements like Power diodes, thyristor, IGBT, TRIAC, rectifier and choppers.
Power Electronics Trainer Kit
The power electronics trainer kit is a compact, ready-to-use experiment workbench. It has been designed in a vertical position and with sufficient space for working. Each workbench is provided with
|
S.N |
Particular |
|
1 |
Digital Storage Oscilloscope (DSO) |
|
2 |
Measurement devices |
|
3 |
SCR Module |
|
4 |
IGBT character module |
|
5 |
Series Inverter |
|
6 |
Single phasecontrolled rectifier |
|
7 |
Universal Power electronics kit |
|
8 |
Single phase cycloconverter |
|
9 |
Single phase bridge inverter |
|
10 |
MOSFET, IGBT, Transistor and SCR based Step up Chopper |
|
11 |
MOSFET, IGBT, Transistor and SCR based Step down Chopper |
|
12 |
Load Modules |
|
13 |
Three phase rectifier |
Use of Laboratory
Students from the Electronics Engineering and Computer Engineering will enrich their hands-on and practical knowledge on this laboratory. Laboratory exercise and demonstration of automation for the course of Instrumentation will be carried out for those students. Similarly interested technical personal and different professionals related to electrical engineering will be trained on the field of automation and smart power system. Even the academic professionals also lack the proper understanding on PLC, HMI and SCADA. The training courses will be developed for undergraduates, graduates, academics and professionals depending upon the finding of need assessment survey. This laboratory is thus sure to fulfil the present need of the whole nation.
KEC has dedicated wings known as Research, Consultancy and Training Division (RTCD) for the development of research and enhancement of training activities at KEC. Each year RTCD provides several trainings to third and fourth-year students related to their career and interest. Thus, in addition to laboratory task RTCD, will assure to conduct Automation training to its students each year. Up to the date here in Nepal, it is very rare to have automation lab in colleges, so MOU with other university will be done so that other student from whole nation can access the laboratory.
Power Electronics is a core subject for Electrical Engineering undergraduate’s students. Similarly, as an elective subject for Computer Engineering, and Electronics & information engineering but due to lack of Power Electronics laboratory, KEC is not being able to propose Power Electronics as an elective course for its student. After the installation of laboratory student will have option to choose Power Electronics as an elective subject. We know, Nepal is a developing country in the field of industry and power electronics is important subject for those who are interested in industrial area, so KEC can at least conduct the power electronics course for some students of Computer and Electronics Engineering each year. Beside power electronics, students of Electronics Engineering will perform the laboratory task of the core subject Advance Electronics in the same laboratory each year.
Contact information and Location
Bishal Rimal
Sr. Lecturer
Email: bishalrimal@kec.edu.np