Intelligent Control of Electrical Power Consumption and Wastage in University of Benin Lecture Theatres

Abstract

This paper investigates electrical power consumptions and wastages in

lecture theatres (LTs), drawing offices (DOs) and laboratories of the

University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria. It identifies one major source

of electrical energy wastage; lightings and fans in the lecture theatres and

laboratories remaining on in the absence of students, technicians,

technologists and lecturers. The aim of this work is to design an

intelligent system to control the lightings and fans in the lecture theatres

and laboratories, analyse the amount of electrical energy consumed with

and without the intelligent system and calculate the energy wastage. The

system turns on lightings and fans within the section in the LT where

there are persons while lightings and fans in other areas remain turned

off. The intelligent system was designed using PIC16F877A

microcontroller, Passive Infra-Red (PIR) motion sensors, relays, energy

saving bulbs and the code was written using MicroC Pro.