| dc.description.abstract | Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), one of the world’s largest medical aid organizations, operates field hospitals around the world, providing health care to millions. However, field hospitals are often located in environments where access to a quality electrical power supply is precarious, and MSF must often self-supply or supplement their electrical power needs. Thus, the management of the electrical power supply presents challenges to field technicians. In this thesis, a proof-of-concept system was designed to monitor, analyze, and control the electrical demands, using various sensors and inexpensive micro controllers. After building a replica electrical hospital network, a micro grid analyzer was developed which logged and calculated various real-time electrical values. Next, a wireless mesh system was built to connect or disconnect loads based on a collection of variables. This thesis demonstrates the possibility of using affordable off-the-shelf equipment to build a logging and control system for electrical power supply management for field technicians. Even though these systems will need to be further tested in the field, this thesis proves the concept and shows the potential for simple and affordable solutions to electrical power supply management for field technicians. Implementing such systems in field hospitals will provide more electrical stability in otherwise unstable environments, ultimately serving patients dependent on hospital care. | |
