Curtin Sarawak student wins IEEE Power and Energy Chapter award

Miri – 6 September 2012 – Chin Pin Rui, an electrical and computer engineering student of the School of Engineering and Science at Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia (Curtin Sarawak) recently received an award from the Institution of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) for his final-year project entitled ‘Ethernet Control AC Motor via PLC using LabVIEW’.

Chin’s project was one of the outstanding final-year projects chosen at an event for final year engineering students organised by the Malaysia Chapter of IEEE Power and Energy Society in July this year. The event was held to identify outstanding projects in the area of power and energy that could foster technological innovation and excellence.

Chin’s project consists of a remote machinery control system which allows users to remotely control the orientation and speed of AC motors. This innovation will help engineers and technicians to remotely control machines in power plants and machinery rooms.

According to Chin, the user’s computer serves as the control panel of the system that uses LabVIEW, a graphical development software for engineering and scientific applications, and  ethernet cables and routers are used as the system’s communication devices.

Other devices such as PLC and Variable Frequency Drives and inverters are also included. The PLC acts as the processor of the system, while the Variable Frequency Drive is responsible for inverting the single-phase power to three-phase power as well as for controlling the speed and orientation of the AC motor.

Head of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department in Curtin Sarawak’s School of Engineering and Science, Associate Professor Dr. Ashutosh Kumar Singh, said he is very proud of Chin and his winning project.

“This award proves that our final-year projects carried out by our students and their supervisors can have excellent research outcomes. Many of our projects are also featured in various journals and conference papers,” remarked Dr. Ashutosh.

IEEE is the world’s largest professional association dedicated to advancing technological innovation and excellence for the benefit of humanity. IEEE and its members inspire a global community through the association’s highly-cited publications, conferences, technology standards, and professional and educational activities. The IEEE Power and Energy Society is one of its leading societies with over 225 local chapters worldwide.

Curtin Sarawak has an IEEE Student Branch, which actively organises annual exhibitions and site visit activities for its members.

Chin Pin Rui (left) with Associate Professor Dr. Nader Nassif Barsoum of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

Three-phase induction motor used in Chin’s project..