1. TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY OF MOMBASA
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
DIPLOMA IN ELECTRICAL POWER ENGINEERING
DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING
REPORT TITLE
INTERNSHIP REPORT FOR THE PERIOD OF 5TH
JUNE TO 31ST
AUGUST
2013
‘This a report detailing the activities carried out at the International
Livestock Research Institute in the Department of Electrical and Electronic
Engineering for the partial fulfillment of the requirement for the award of
a Diploma in Electrical Power Engineering at the Technical University of
Mombasa’
NAME: MAURICE KARIUKI
STUDENT IDENTITY NUMBER:D.E.P.E/0612/2010
ORGANISATION: INTERNATIONAL LIVESTOCK RESEARCH INSTITUTE
ILRI
2. SUPERVISOR: MR.KENNETH KAMAU
REPORTDECLARATION FORM
THE CANDIDATE
I, the undersigned declare that this is my original work and not a reproduction of
someone else’s work.
NAME ADM SIGNATURE
Maurice Kariuki D.E.P.E/0610/2010
Declare that;
a) The report named aboveis my original work and supervised by Mr. Kenneth
Kamau
b) I received no undue help fromunauthorized persons other than the normal
guidance of my supervisor
c) I carried out the internship successfully atInternationalLivestock Research
Institute.
Dror,Iddo
Head: Capacity and Strengthening
Signature……………………………….
3. DEDICATION
I dedicate this piece of work to my loving mum and to all those that have made
me what I am today.
4. AKNOWLEGEMENT
I firsttake this opportunity to thank Almighty God for granting me good health to
complete my internship. I would also wish to sincerely thank my mum and the
rest of my family for their continued support, not forgetting my friends and the
entire ILRI community for their encouragement and assistance. Last but not least I
would also thank my supervisor Mr. Kenneth Kamau and the rest of the
Electricians in the Engineering department.
Thank you for your constructivecritism.May God bless you abundantly.
5. CHAPTER ONE
1.0 Introduction
1.0.1. INTERNATIONAL LIVESTOCKRESEARCH INSTITUTE
The InternationalLivestock Research Institute(ILRI) is a non-profitmaking NGO
with its headquarters based in Nairobi, Kenya. Itis an NGO that works to improve
food security and reduce poverty in developing countries through research for
better and more sustainable useof livestock i.e. “Better livesthroughlivestock”.
ILRI is a member of the CGIARConsortiumwhich works for a food-securefuture.
ILRI leads the Livestock and Fish Research Programand hosts BecA-ILRI hub for
East and Central Africa.
ILRI conducts research in five areas;
targeting research and development opportunities,
enabling innovation,
improving market opportunities,
using biotechnology to securelivestock assets and
People, livestock and environment.
1.0.2 MISSION
To improvefood and nutritional security and to reduce poverty in developing
countries through research for efficient, safeand sustainableuse of livestock—
ensuring better lives through livestock.
1.0.3 VISION
A world where all people have access to enough food and livelihood options to
fulfill their potential.
6. 1.0.4 MY AIM AND OBJECTIVEAS AN INTERN ATILRI
1.0.5 AIM
To acquire knowledge, skills and havehands on experience in an industrial
or working environmentin my area of interest which will be useful in my
career and in life as well.
1.0.6 OBJECTIVES
To increase my responsibility and self determination in my field of
expertise.
Ability to develop tough and informed decisions.
Cultivate the spirit of a team player as well as ability to work
independently.
To add value, enhance teamwork, innovation and results in the
organization.
7. 1.0.7 DIVISION OF ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
ENGINEERING MANAGER
SUPERVISOR IN
MECHANICAL
SERVICES
SUPERVISOR IN
ELECTRONICS
ENGINEERING
SUPERVISORIN
ELECTRICAL
ENGINEERING
TECHNICIANS
& STUDENTS
ELECTRICIANS
& STUDENTS
ELECTRICIANS
& STUDENTS
SUPERVISOR
IN
TRANSPORT
DRIVERS &
MECHANICS
HELPDESK
CASUALS AND CONTRACTORS
8. 1.0.8 DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
During my internship at the InternationalLivestock Research Institute(ILRI).I was
assigned several duties and assignments which included:
a) Wiring of both single phase and three phasesystems with assistancefrom
other Electricians or as directed by my supervisor.
b) Repairing of domestic electrical appliances, in this case are roomheaters,
electric kettles among many other appliances.
c) Troubleshooting of faulty electrical circuits which include security lighting
circuits coupled with photocell units.
d) Replacing of worn out fluorescenttubes and bulbs around the Campus as
well as carrying outpreventive maintenance in all electrical units and
circuit.
e) Leasing with the rest of Electricians when called upon to in tackling
technical duties.
f) Servicing of electrical motors at the animal unit along the spray race.
g) Replacing of worn out socketoutlets around campus.
h) Installing new or upgrading old lighting units to match with current trend or
as per the clients needs.
1.0.9 PROCEDURES FOR MAJOR TASKS THATI TACKLED
1.1.0 EARTHING
This is connecting to the general mass of the earth of a tested and confirmed
dead line or equipment for earthing.
All phases should be earthed even if work is to be carried out only on one
phase.
Every possiblesourceside of power should be earthed and shall define the
limit of work.
9. For long spans or where work is within or close proximity of high voltage
bus-bars.
The additional Earths shall be recovered before the PTW is cancelled.
The cross-section area of the earthing lead shall be at least one-half of the
line to be earthed.
1.1.1 EARTHING SEQUENCE
The earthing lead shall be connected to the good conducting metal structure
which is well grounded then to equipment to be earthed (NEVERCONNECT THE
EQUIPMENTFIRST). For threephasecircuits, after connecting the lead to a
properly grounded metal, you apply to the phasenearest to you then the next
and finally the one furthest.
Earthing is done by means of approved link-sticks (NEVERUSE HANDS EVEN IF
EQUIPMENTIS WITHINHANDS REACH). To recover the earth is the reverseof
application. Start with the phase furthest. Remember not to removethe clamp on
the grounded metal structurebefore the one applied to the phasebut for integral
earth switches or isolators use approved rubber gloves.
1.1.2 ISOLATION
This involves racking out a circuit breaker and locking of the bus-bar shutters with
a non-standard padlock, or withdrawing the castell key of an opened circuit
breaker and keeping it in safecustody.
For an isolator locking the operating handle in the open position with a non-
standard padlock and for motorized isolators, removing the motor fuses, and or
castell key and keeping them in safecustody.
Italso involves fixing danger and caution notices, marking or demarcating working
area by a red tape or ribbon.
10. 1.1.3 TRANSFORMER INSPECTION
In order to keep the transformer ata satisfactory and good maintenance then
below checks should be conducted;
Check oil level in the oil-filled bushings
Check condition of silica gel, replace is necessary
Visually inspect tank for signs of oil leakage
Record maximum oil temperature and rest (drag hand)
Record maximum winding temperature and rest
Visually inspect bushings for any signs of cracking or chipping
Check level of water in soak pit and drain if flooded
Listen to any abnormalsounds fromthe cooling fans and the transformer
Check presenceof nest, shrubs etc in the neighborhood of transformer.
Record tap changer counter readings
Clear and cancel
Check tap changer position
1.1.4 MOTOR SERVICING
The major faults of a motor are flooding, looseconnections on the leads,
failure/trip because of fault contactors feeding the motors, burntwindings due to
shortcircuiting, poor insulation resistance, noiseand vibrations etc. all these
problems have to be solved and the motor maintained at a good state of working.
If the insulation resistanceof a motor has gone low i.e. 0 ohms, then the motor
will not run, therefore, in order to improvethe insulation resistanceof the motor
the following procedureshould be followed;
Dismantle the motor first
Clean the stator winding using dry rags
11. Use clean brush and paraffin or white spirit to continue with cleaning
Using the white spirit, compressed air and spray gun, continuecleaning to
ensurethat the stator winding are clean and free fromany dustparticles
When you are done cleaning, then heat the stator winding of the motor
using the heaters at a temperature of around 550c to 650c to dry the
winding.
During the heating process, keep on taking the IRvalue to monitor its
behavior
NB
The insulation resistance(IR) values go up firstthen drop and finally go up again
as illustrated below.
After heating then leave the motor to cool and finally apply the electrical
insulation vanish.
Take the IRvalues and DCresistance again
If you are satisfied with the values, then box the motor and test run it to
monitor currents and speed using clamp meter and tachometer
respectively
If you are satisfied then mount your motor to the servicesite
12. CHAPTER TWO
2.0 ASSIGNMENTS
Most of the assignments given to me weregenerally practical. They included
troubleshooting some of the faulty circuits and coming up with solutions to them.
However my supervisor provided mewith assistancefromthe rest of the
Electricians who were more than willing to assistand found learning quite easy
and interesting.
2.0.1 COMPLETION OF ASSIGNMENTS
I tried as much as I could to ensureassignments given to me are cleared on time
as well as returning all job cards as per the stipulated time.
2.0.2 WORKEXPERIENCE
Working at ILRI for thethree months I have been here has greatly influenced me
in a positive way both professionally as well in a personallevel.
I have gained so much experience in working in differentenvironment around the
campus and havemet so many professionals in different fields to whomwe have
shared a lot. This in itself has made me better than I was three months back.
2.0.3 SUCCESS AND SHORTCOMINGS
During my internship, I mustsay I have gained a lot but of coursewith bits of
challenges here and there.
13. Some of the challenges that I experienced though I was able to get used to them
included:
a) During my firstweek I really did not know whatexactly my work entailed,
as well as the dos and Don’ts of the institution, though I was later assisted
when I went through my induction.
b) Another of my great challenge was finding my way around the campus
when asked to attend to someduties, though with the clear and kind staffs
around this didn’t seem a big challenge after all.
c) Collecting materials at times took long due to unavailability of someoneto
attend to you on time.
14. CHAPTER THREE
3.0 INTERNSHIP AS A LEARNING PROCESS
3.0.1 MY EXPECTATIONS
During my internship, I had with me key areas that I wanted to major in. These
included;
a) Basic Electrical circuit troubleshooting
b) Single-phaseand three phase wiring.
c) Domestic Electric appliances repair
d) Servicing of electric circuits.
e) Preventivemaintains of fluorescentand other lighting units
f) Servicing of electric motors ( a.c and d.c)
g) Learning the mode of management around the Campus.
h) Generator and transformer inspection.
I was however not able to exhaustall areas since some of the facilities wereeither
not available in Campus or not easily accessible.
3.0.2 BENEFITS
During my internship I benefited a lot from the much experience that I acquired
fromthe Electricians that we liaised with. I also managed to network with lots of
the staff around to whomwe have become really good friends.
Last but not least, I benefited a lot fromthe allowance that was made available to
me. I must stay Itassisted me a great deal since it made my internship period
manageable.
15. 3.0.3 EXPERIENCED GAINED
ELECTRICAL
Took partin general troubleshooting, fault finding and fixing
Able to understand layout, protection systemand basic electrical circuits.
Functioning of the motors, their major faults, how to service motors, motor
connections (star and delta), means of preventing flooding of motors and
their maintenance procedures.
Apart fromelectrical experience, I was able to learn a lot frommy
supervisors on job managementas well as from other staff around Campus.
16. CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 ORBSERVATION CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
4.0.1 OBSERVATION
Having been at ILRI for thepast three months, I noted a few observations;
These include
a) Jobs were professionally handled by the staff.
b) Security was excellent and thoseresponsiblewere polite and professional.
c) ILRI as an organization is really focused on adding more value to its staff
through organizing workshopsand team building.
d) Being having at the engineering department, I noted some of the materials
that we often used were severally out of stock and this in a way made jobs
lag.
e) Protective gears, in this case helmets, werenot available in good numbers
and those that were available were broken.
4.0.2 CONCLUSION
My internship was geared towards improving knowledgeand skills learnt from
college and to put the theory learnt into practice since it is skeletal without any
experience fromthe working environmenthad to usethat little information to
tackle faulty electrical situations.
17. 4.0.3 RECOMMENDATION
What ILRI is doing through Capacity and Strengthening office, is commendable
and I being a beneficiary I am grateful; however more can be done.
This include:
a) Offering Engineering students safety boots and any other necessary
protective gear since the safety boots for example are costly for students to
afford especially when they are on internship.
b) ILRI try and come up with talent exhibitions on monthly basis to give a
chance for the staff showcasetheir hidden talents as this will strengthen
teamwork and boostworkers morale.
18. APPENDIX
Definition Of Terms Used In ElectricalSections andmajor controlcircuits.
Extra high voltage-This is voltage above 230KV.
High voltage-This is the voltage between 52KKV and 230 KV.
Medium voltage-This is the voltage between 1KV and 52KV.
Low voltage-This is voltage below 1KV.
Dead-Refers to about zero voltage and that which is isolated fromany live
system
Live –This refers to any line that is electrically charged.
Approved-Itis sanctioned for useby any appropriate chief engineer.
Switched off-This is disconnection from live conductors by the operation of
controlling switchgear to the OFF or OPENposition.
Earthed-This is connection to the general mass of the earth.
Switching-This is opening or closing of a circuit breaker either remotely,
locally or manually ,as well as opening of air break switch or removal of
tapplings or tappling fuses under instructions or consentof a control
engineer.
Isolation-This is making of any electrical equipment inoperable. This way, it
will not be possibleto operate the equipment either intentionally or
accidentally. This makes it safeto be worked on. Isolation includes the
applications of Danger and Caution signs.
Operation-This is closing or opening of any circuit breaker or isolator or
removalof any fuses or links controlling equipment connected to the grid
including the application.
Equipment-This is any line, cable, switch, circuit breaker or other apparatus
connected to systemand which is energized or capable of being energized.
