Journal of the Ghana Institution of Engineering

Ghana's electric vehicle policy: a path to aviation industry decarbonization

God’sable S. K. Aidam — 2024-12-05

The International Energy Agency reports a surge of over 250 million tons in global carbon dioxide emissions from the transportation sector in 2022, reaching close to 8 gigatons, predominantly fuelled by increased passenger and cargo activities post the COVID-19 pandemic. The aviation sector, constituting 3% of human-induced CO2 emissions, played a pivotal role in this surge, highlighting the urgent need for transformative measures. The urgency of decarbonizing the aviation sector, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa is underscored, considering its projected contribution to global carbon emissions and the lack of policies to adopt green technologies in the African aviation industry. The paper delves into the transformative impact of Electric Vehicle (EV) in aviation, highlighting the potential of EV adoption in ground operations and emphasizing the need for a robust charging infrastructure. Drawing insights from global case studies, the paper underscores the feasibility and benefits of EV adoption in the aviation industry. Ghana's EV Policy emerges as a pioneering force in the aviation industry's journey towards decarbonization. By strategically harnessing the policy's momentum and lithium resources, Ghana can position itself as a leader in adopting sustainable technologies, contributing to broader international efforts for a greener future in air travel. The National EV Policy should therefore be actively implemented, fostering a phased transition to EVs in the transportation sector to achieve emission reduction goals by 2045. Collaboration between the government and stakeholders should be strengthened to ensure the successful integration of EVs into Ghana's aviation, aligning with global trends for a sustainable and environmentally friendly aviation sector.

Flow regime dynamics in a bubble column reactor

Kelvin Aduse-Poku — 2024-12-05

This study investigates fluid dynamics within bubble column reactors. Using an air-water system, flow regimes were generated and assessed using predictive models such as homogenous, Armand, and drift flux models. This study highlights the complexities of two-phase fluid flow, particularly focusing on the dynamic behaviours of fluids and bubbles within the column reactor. The experimental setup consisted of a transparent test section, utilizing advanced image processing techniques to accurately determine gas holdups and their relationship with superficial velocities. The results show that the Homogenous model effectively predicts the bubble flow regime but encounters limitations in the slug flow regime due to intricate phase interactions and transitional conditions. However, the Armand model and drift flux model showed accuracy in the slug and transitional flow regimes and improved at higher superficial liquid velocities. The study underscores the necessity of integrating several empirical models to enhance predictive capabilities in bubble columns. Thus, addressing experimental uncertainties in flow dynamics would be more optimal when other advanced models are integrated in the prediction of multiphase flow regimes.

The bearings of workspace design on employee health

Samuel Dorhetso — 2024-12-05

At present computer workstations have become crucially essential to most occupations, and employees spend ample time using them. Hence, health issues emerging from their design and use must be properly examined, and the gaps due to the dearth of sufficient knowledge on how they affect employee health through the incidence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) must be filled. Hence, the purpose of the current study was to examine the effects of workspace design as well as the control effects of work posture on the health of employees, captured as the tendency of MSDs. A positivist research approach was adopted for this study, and data were collected from respondents in the finance, insurance and education industries within the Greater Accra Region using a 5-point Likert scale close-ended questionnaire. The data garnered were evaluated with bivariate correlation and regression analysis, facilitated by the statistical package for the social sciences software, and discussed. The study found that workstation layout (specifically leg comfort) and feet support or sitting posture statistically significantly (p = 0.001) predict employee health. The findings of the study would be used primarily within the context of the particular industries studied. However, the verdicts may be generalized to add on to literature, since theoretical and empirical findings are equally relevant universally. It is envisioned that the yields of this study would inform strategic decisions regarding workspace designs by firms to create and maintain remarkable levels of health amongst employees and help reduce the frequency of work-related MSDs.

Determination of best processing route for lead recovery from fire assay slags

John Koomson — 2024-12-05

In Ghana, voluminous amounts of slags are generated by fire assay laboratories. Since lead is a major constituent in fire assay slags, it is possible to find its way into the slag matrix and be released into the geo environment upon disposal. This work ascertains the possible amount of lead in the slags and recovers it using flotation, gravity concentration and acid-leaching methods. The initial samples were chemically characterized using an X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and acid-digested for Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) analysis. The results indicate that fire assay laboratories have elevated heavy metal concentrations, especially lead (Pb), which is above the Ghana Environmental Protection Agency (GEPA) and World Health Organization (WHO) permissible levels, demonstrating anthropogenic impacts. The study found the recoveries were 77.83 %, 77.09 % and 75.90 % for flotation, gravity separation and acid leaching respectively. It is concluded that the gravity separation method is the best processing route for lead recovery from fire assay slags since the gravity separation poses little or no environmental dangers whereas flotation and acid leaching processes require chemicals that can cause skin irritation and other adverse effects. Also, the gravity separation process requires less time to perform.

Determinants of access to electricity in Ghana: the role of petroleum products prices

Samuel Dorhetso — 2024-12-05

This study probes the intricate interplay between petroleum product prices and access to electricity in Ghana, alongside other critical determinants, including electricity prices, GDP per capita, rural population growth, and foreign direct investment. Spanning the years 2000 to 2022, the research employs robust correlation and regression analyses to uncover significant relationships among these socioeconomic variables. The findings reveal compelling evidence that prices of petroleum products have substantial effects on electricity access, primarily through their impact on operational costs, and that rising prices of diesel have more negative impacts than corresponding rising petrol prices. Also, increased GDP per capita and electricity prices positively affect improved electricity access, suggesting that economic growth and revenue generation are key to expanding access. However, the effects of rural population growth and foreign direct investments on electricity access were insignificant, although the constructs were statistically significantly correlated. The findings highlight the importance of stabilizing petroleum product prices and improving economic conditions to enhance electricity access. Additionally, prioritizing investments in rural electrification and infrastructure development is crucial to accommodate the growing rural population. This study fills a gap in the literature by providing empirical evidence on the determinants of electricity access in Ghana, with a novel focus on petroleum product prices. Aside from the theoretical implications of this research, its recommendations aim to inform policymakers and stakeholders in their efforts to achieve universal electricity access, aligned with the seventh Sustainable Development Goal.

Studies on the use of locally manufactured soaps as alternative collectors for the flotation of iron ores

John Koomson — 2024-12-05

Industrially approved collectors are known to be expensive in the mining sector, which raises production costs. This research shows how three locally manufactured soaps can be used as an alternative for collectors in the flotation process. The chemical composition of the iron oxide sample was determined using X-ray fluorescence (XRF). The soaps were graded according to total fatty matter, free caustic alkali, and lather volume to demonstrate their quality. The iron oxides, which made up 67 % of the total weight, were floated with naphthalene as a frother and locally manufactured soaps, namely Key soap, Alata soap, and Azumah Blow soap, at a collector dosage of 0.6 ml, 1 ml, and 1.4 ml. This was done to establish which soap is the most efficient collector and the dosage that results in the best recovery. Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) was used to determine the iron content that reported in the feed, concentrates and tailings. Optimum collector dosage was 1 ml, with Alata soap generating the highest recovery of 70.5 %, which compares well with conventional collectors used in iron oxide flotation. The studies also revealed that the total fatty matter, free caustic alkali, and lather volume of locally made soaps have a positive influence on the flotation of iron oxide. However, only Key soap met all the specifications for soaps by the Ghana Standards Authority.

Decentralized energy trading systems for microgrids using blockchain and smart contract technologies

Ernest O. Ezugwu — 2024-12-05

Blockchain technology, smart contract and microgrid systems have facilitated innovations and breakthroughs in the electricity industry. The once bundled electricity market dominated by a few key players is now gradually becoming unbundled to a more consumer-centric market due to these new technologies. To facilitate the use of community microgrids, this study develops a new trend in peer-to-peer energy trading. In this work, a model for a smart microgrid system, a decentralized energy trading platform based on blockchain, and smart contract technologies is proposed, considering an islanded community microgrid network of energy prosumers. Smart meters were used to ensure the bi-directional flow of data and power, thereby giving prosumers control over their power usage. Storage and validation of participants’ data are stored on the blockchain network, which has a strong feature of decentralization, transparency, security and data immutability. The smart contract automatically executes power delivery and transfer of tokens from the buyer’s wallet to the seller’s energy wallet based on the transaction logic and protocol. A web-user interface was designed to enable the ease of transactions by market participants and the web-user interface was designed on React.Javascript while the smart contract codes were done on the solidity programming language. Algorithms were also developed for the market trade operations in real time and sets of mathematical equations were formulated for energy pricing based on the supply and demand philosophies to curtail over-pricing and underpricing of energy.

Hydraulic evaluation of water supply and distribution systems: case study of Lawra township water supply system in the Upper-West Region of Ghana

Oscar Baalabong — 2024-12-05

Population growth, urbanization, and people’s preferences for water to be brought closest to the home, compel operators with little or no technical know-how on Water supply and distribution systems (WDSs) hydraulics to often introduce new nodes into the network to extend water to consumers. The outcome is operational challenges with some areas not getting adequate supply because of inappropriate pipe routing and sizing, and pressure build up in some sections resulting in pipe bursts during operation. The study evaluated the hydraulic performance of the Lawra township water distribution system for improved service delivery using hydraulic-based models. The Flowius application, Google Earth, Geographical information system (GIS) were the data collection tools employed, while EPAnet and Microsoft Excel software were used to analyse the data. The hydraulic parameters within a 24-hour period in the existing and proposed network were monitored. The existing system runs for a maximum of five hours (00:00am-05:00am) when tested with pressure value (5.3 m) not meeting the minimum pressure requirement of 10 m. The remaining hours of the day depicted negative pressures signifying system unbalance. There were significant head losses in all the three (3) zones (A 24.25 m/km, B 161.66 m/km and C 72.96 m/km) with zone B recording almost thirty-two (32) times higher than the recommended standard of 5 m/km. Series of velocity fluctuation occurred (0m/s – 2.81m/s) across the entire network during the simulation period. The existing network coverage is 70 % with 1360 households. The remodelled network, using EPAnet software for improved performance, was balanced with hydraulic parameters (pressure, velocity and head loss) meeting designed standards and peak hourly demand occurred at 18:00 hours across all the three (3) pressure zones.