Webinar Terminal Reports

In this page, terminal reports of each and every webinar are presented. It is composed of what was discussed during each webinar, what I have learned in each webinar, as well as how I can apply the learnings from each of the said webinars to my future as an Electrical Engineering Student in the field.

Electrical Safety in Residential Wiring

The webinar entitled “REE and RME Committee Webinar; Electrical Safety in Residential Wiring” was held on February 20, 2022 at 1pm to 3pm in Philippine time and was organized by the Institute of Integrated Electrical Engineers of the Philippines, Inc. United Arab Emirates Chapter. The Guest Speaker was Engr. Edrward Punongbayan, REE, RME, MEng in Electrical Engineering. The webinar was held in the online platform Zoom Meetings.

The Main topic that was discussed during the webinar was the Importance of Electrical Safety in Residential Wiring. The contents of the webinar were based in the Philippine Electrical Code Article 1.0.1.1A, “Practical safeguarding of persons and property from hazard arising from the use of electricity.”

The first topic that was discussed was about the main causes of such electrical hazards in the modern home. The given examples were loose outlet or non standard power plugs and socket, no proper cable support and insulation, overfilling of junction boxes, octopus plugs, loose contacts or wrong connections, and the like. That being said, the speaker emphasized that the best way to prevent hazards is to be knowledgeable of the main causes which is one of the reasons for the webinar.

He then went on to discuss the splices and joints that are used in the field, namely: Western Union Splice (Short and Long Tie), Rat Tail Joint, Y Splice, Knotted Tap, and Multiple Wrapped Cable Splice. He also discussed the main functions and features of each type of splice.

Another topic that was discussed is the sizing of wires and circuit breakers and how to calculate for the load schedule of lighting outlet, convenience outlet, and ACU outlet as well as the rules on how to compute for the loads with respect to the Philippine Electrical Code.

The Service Entrance was also discussed. Its components, location, disconnecting means, as well as grounding and bounding. Rules and information about them from the PEC was also discussed as well as how to avoid electric shock with Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter. In line with this, common causes of electric shock were also discussed as well as how to prevent them from happening. The given ways to prevent electric shock were: never connect or disconnect lines under load condition, keep appliances away from moisture or water, use insulated tools, turn off power, install Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI), and don’t be overconfident.

What I have learned were the topics mentioned above which are the main causes of electrical hazards in residential area, the splices and joints that are used in the field and their features and functions, the sizing of wires and conduits and how to compute the load, the service entrance. and the common causes of electrical shock and how to prevent them from happening. All in all, I have learned much in order to be prepared so that these electrical hazards will be avoided, or much better, prevented in my own residential home.

The topic is greatly significant for us students who are aiming to be Registered Master Electricians and/or Registered Electrical Engineers because in our line of work, we are working with something which is nor visible to the naked eye, which is electricity. If we are not careful of the hazards and cause of hazards discussed during the webinar, this may lead to serious accidents or even death. In the field, Electricians and Electrical Engineers work with the dangers of electricity almost everyday.

It is also significant for the clients that we will someday be working for. If we do not know how to accurately size the wire and conduit with respect to the calculated load, this may be the cause of deaths in a residential home full of innocent clients who just want a home. Lives are always at stake so we must have the right knowledge in order to prevent accidents or fires.

All in all, the students took a great step forward with the topic discussed. For we cannot reach greater heights without this basic foundation of knowledge for our own safety and for the safety of others.

PLC Logic Controller and PLC Based Motor Control

The webinar entitled “PLC Logic Controller and PLC Based Motor Control” was held on March 11, 2022 at 9am to 12nn, and was organized by the the group of Daniel Ezra Octeza. The Guest Speaker was Engr. Ricardo Cleofe, REE, RME & LPT. The webinar was held in the online platform Zoom Meetings and was also livestreamed on face book.

The Main topic that was discussed during the webinar was the basics of Programmable Logic Circuits, how they work, and their many types and functions. Types of relays that makes were also discussed as well as how they worked and what they were applied to based on their functions. In the latter part of the webinar, the speaker also discussed how to create a logic circuit to control a motor.

The first topic that was discussed was about the basics of Programmable Logic Circuits. The definition of what a Programmable Logic Circuit is was discussed as well as its functions and types. The speaker also discussed the basic control system, its parts, and the basic block diagram of a PLC system. The speaker also discussed input and output modules and their different classifications and types. Many devices relevant was also discussed such as push button and control switches, types of contacts, limit switches, analog inputs, proximity sensor, reed switch, power supply, central processing unit, and more.

Another topic that was discussed was PLC programming languages. In PLC, there are many languages that can be used and are classified into five main standards: 1) Ladder Diagram, 2) Instruction List, 3) Structured Text, 4) Function Block Diagram, and 5) Sequential Function Charts. The speaker also went on to discuss the many manufacturers of PLC such as siemens, omron, and the like. He also discussed many subtopics under Ladder Diagram Programming.

The Last part of the webinar was the application portion, where the attendees were taught on how to create their own PLC program in order to control motors. First, the software needed was discussed and how it can be installed. After that, the speaker then went on to demonstrate what must be done in order to make a PLC program work as well as the many functions of each step and details on how they came to be. With this, the attendees were able to grasp what needed to be done for this will be their activity for the webinar. With that the discussion portion of the webinar came to a close.

The topic is greatly significant and relevant for us students who are aiming to be Registered Master Electricians and/or Registered Electrical Engineers because in today's era, motors and generators are commonly used and as a result programs are fabricated in order to control these as well as ensure safety in case of overload. With PLC programming, the engineer can customize the duration and intensity of the speed of a motor as well as design conditions that if met, the motor or generator would be automatically turned off for safety.

All in all, the students will most definitely carry their knowledge and experience gained during this webinar to their future jobs in the field of Electrical Engineering.

Extra-High Voltage Underground Cable System

The webinar entitled “Extra-High Voltage Underground Cable System” was held on March 19, 2022 at 9am to 12nn. The Guest Speaker was Engr. German Borlagdon Jr., RME, REE & PEE. The webinar was held in the online platform Zoom Meetings and was also livestreamed on facebook.

The Main topic that was discussed during the webinar was the underground cable system, how they are made, what are its advantages and disadvantages, what are the safety precautions that must be done, and what are the long term benefits of applying this underground cable system.

The first topic that was discussed was about the High voltage underground system itself. Because as its name suggests, it carries high voltage, the underground system was especially designed so that it would be safe from the dangers of whatever may happen underground. The speaker also discussed when and where the underground cable system was first applied and how it came to be the system that is used in other countries today. It was also discussed that it is now also applied in the Philippines, namely Davao.

Another topic that was discussed was how these underground systems are made. Of course, certain conditions must be met in order for these types of system to be laid into work. That is also the case with underground systems. Details about the geography of the land, the pipes underneath it, and many other factors are considered in the making of these underground high voltage systems. Without these preliminary data and conditions, it would most definitely cause many casualties and as a result waste of lives, money, and resources.

The Speaker also went to discuss the many advantages of underground systems, as well as their disadvantages. They are more costly and require more work. But in the long term, they are more advantageous than overhead wires because they have less possibility of being damaged or disconnected. It also requires less maintenance and is more economically efficient in the long run.

All in all, the topics discussed are greatly relevant to the future engineers because of the emerging use of this in the country. As stated in the previous paragraphs, some cities have already incorporated this and of course, more minds are needed in order to fully incorporate it so that the country would be able to apply underground wire systems and aid in the growth of the economy in the electrical aspect.

Three Phase Induction Motor: Principles and Applications

The webinar entitled “Three Phase Induction Motor: Principles and Applications” was held on April 16, 2022 at 9am to 12nn. The Guest Speaker was Engr. Rocky Jay Javier, RME, REE & PEE. The webinar was held in the online platform Zoom Meetings and was also livestreamed on facebook.

In order to understand the principles and applications of the three-phase induction motor, the speaker first discussed what a three-phase induction motor is. It was defined as an electromechanical energy conversion device which converts 3-phase input electrical power into output mechanical power. The speaker then went on to discuss the overview of the principles that will be discussed.

The speaker then proceeded to discuss the overview of induction motors in general as well as their advantages and disadvantages in the industry. He also discussed the classifications of motors depending on their construction and energy source. After doing so, he discussed the construction of the three-phase induction motor,

After doing so, he then went on to discuss in full detail the principles that are the basis for the construction and working of the three-phase induction motor. It is mostly based on two main concepts: Faraday's Law of Electromagnetic Induction and Lenz's Law. He also discussed in detail the speed of the rotor and the synchronous speed.

Another topic that was discussed was how these motors could be protected from damage or overloading. This is through the faults integrated in the circuit of the motor. This ensures that the motor will be turned off in case of harmful conditions.

The Speaker also discussed the types of starters such as wye-starter, delta-starter, soft starter, primary resistor starter, etc. He also discussed abnormal conditions, which are classified into external and internal faults as well as the resistances that is inside the induction motor.

All in all, the topics discussed are greatly relevant to the future engineers because three-phase induction motors are still commonly used by industries in the world today. With the knowledge and information that the attendees have acquired during this webinar, they have become more equipped and ready to face the challenges of working in the field after they graduate. This also prepares them in case they are assigned as maintenance workers for these kinds of motors used in the industry.

Power Systems Protection and Control

The webinar entitled “Power Systems Protection and COntrol” was held on April 16, 2022 at 6pm to 8pm. The Guest Speaker was Engr. Ryan Magalang, PE, PL(Eng.), MSEE (candidate). The webinar was held in the online platform Zoom Meetings and was also livestreamed on facebook.

The main topics that were discussed was about the basic concepts of protection and control design practices that are commonly used in the industry, particularly in North America, familiarization with the commonly used protection and control elements in an electric substation and introduction of some common protection and control schemes.

Before duscussing the said topics, the speaker first went on and presented a disclaimer stating that the presentation is not meant to advertise products and manufacturers, credits are given to the manufacturers for the images and names mention in the presentation as a sample, and to consult the manufacturer when specifying and using the products in personal projects.

The speaker then proceeded to discuss the first topic which is the definition of Protecttion and Control in Power Systems which is composed of elements of protection and control, relay input sources, relay outputs, control supply voltage, communication, and protection & control relaying schemes. The topics that were not covered during the webinar was fault calculation which is under power system studies, and relay settings.

The speaker proceeded to discus the said topics in detail, even including the evolution of each device as well as its history and background. He also presented pictures and samples of these devices so that the attendees would be further familiarized with them, as well as know the parts of each device in the actual and not just in schematics.

In the latter part of the webinar, the speaker presented one line diagrams and three line diagrams of power systems and identified and discussed the symbols of the devices whose function is to protect the said system, He also discussed the breaker control schematic diagram, blocking scheme, relay input and output, critical alar, breaker failure scheme, and other schematics that shows the symbols of the protective devices as well as their functions on the power system itself. He also discussed other design considerations for the protection of a power system so that the attendees would be more well-versed in the designing of these schematics.

All in all, the topics discussed are greatly relevant to the future engineers because safety and efficiency is the main priority of electrical engineers. In these types of big projects such as power systems, more danger is present due to working with higher voltage. As a result, more safety precautions and protection are needed to ensure the safe and efficient working of the system. It is also significant because the students learned the basics of designing the said protection and control of power systems. Although, not fully grasped, the students at least have a foundation on these concepts and will have an upper hand to gain more knwoledge and experience in the field when the time comes.

Emerging Market of Solar in the Philippines

The webinar entitled “Emerging Market of Solar in the Philippines” was held on April 23, 2022 at 8am to 12nn. The Guest Speaker was Engr. Viktoria Locson. The webinar was held in the online platform Zoom Meetings and was also livestreamed on facebook.

The main topics that were discussed were about the company that Engr. Locson is a part of, their products, projects, and platforms.

The speaker first discussed about LONGi, which is the company she is currently working for. She discessed that the comany has partners and customers all around the globe giving an estimate of more than 5000 global customers. She then discussed the many good aspects of the company in terms of financial health, bankable PV module brand, module bankability rating, as well as innovation.

She then proceeded in discussing the main components of their main product, which is of course, their solar panel. She discussed that their panel is standardized BOM and that their selection of materials is a rigorous process, thus ensuring highest quality of solar panels.

After doing so, she went on to discuss the projects of the company she is a part of such as their distribution of panels to Zamboanga, Cavite, and other parts of the country. She also discussed the many innovation and improvements done by the country so as to ensure that they not be left behind in the industry of solar panels.

All in all, the topics discussed were relevant to the attendees so that they may have an idea of how the solar industry operates and the benefits that may come in the case that they join that specific field. They would also have the option of assessing and researching about the company so as to ensure that it is the best for their personal goals and dreams.

Gazing into the Brain and Spine of Electrical Power System

The webinar entitled “Gazing into the Brain and SPine of Electrical Power System” was held on April 30, 2022 at 1pm to 3pm. The Guest Speaker was one of Bicol University's recent graduates who finished the board exam in the Top 2 spot. He is Engr. Gerald Mier, REE, RME. The webinar was held in the online platform Zoom Meetings and was also livestreamed on facebook.

The main topics that were discussed were about the distribution system, types of transmission lines, and reliability indices.

The speaker first had an ice breaker and knowledge level test by using an online platform which asks questions. The attendees then answered the questions related to the topics to be discussed. The questions were five in total. By answering them, the attendees were given an idea on what the speaker would be discussing throughout the webinar.

The speaker then proceeded with his discussion. He first discussed about the how power is generated and how it is transmitted up into the urban home through the use of step up and step down transformers and transmission lines. He also discussed about the classifications of these transmission lines with respect to their length (short, medium, and long). After doing so, he proceeded to discuss about where the electrical energy is commonly taken from or generated from. Some examples given were wind energy, solar energy, and the like.

He also went on to discuss the last topic which is about the reliability indices. He defined the terms SAIFI, SAIDI, CAIDI, and MAIFI, as well as what are the formulas and data needed in order to calculate and solve for the said variables.

When the webinar came to an end, the speaker sent a link which would be the output for the webinar which is to solve for the variables mentioned above.

All in all, the topics discussed were indeed of great importance to the students, since electricity is always used everywhere and they should know the process and steps that lead up to them being able to use it in their own homes. It is also significant in the sense that when they come to the energy distribution field, the knowledge and information shared by the speaker would definitely

aid them in the field. Also, it is significant because in the recent board exams, it was said that many topics about transmission were included in the questions. So this will also help them in passing the board exam.

A Discussion on Electric Power Generation through Geothermal Power Plant

The webinar entitled “A Discussion on Electric Power Generation through Geothermal Power Plant” was held on May 2, 2022 at 9am to 12nn. The Guest Speaker were Engr, Edwin Cirujales, Engr. Jorge Ygusguiza, Engr. Matheo Competente, Engr. Jonel Cordovales, and Engr. Chris Roces. The webinar was held in the online platform Zoom Meetings and was also livestreamed on facebook.

The main topics that were discussed were Geothermal 101, SCS DCS Operations, Process Control System, Electrical Power Supply, and Reliability and Integrity Management.

For the first topic, which is Geothermal 101, Engr. Edwin Cirujales was the speaker. He is the PGPC Tiwi Asset Operations Director. He discussed about the overview of Geothermal System Operation and how geothermal powerplants work in general.

He also discussed about the History and Mission of the said institution in which he is working for. After this, he discussed about the overview of geothermal energy: its history and how it came to be as well as the processes in geothermal power plants, He also went on to duscuss the many benefits of the geothermal process.

For the second topic, which was SCS and DCS Operations, the speaker was Engr. Jorge Ygusguiza, who is the power control engineer of PGPC. He discussed about the overview of control philosophy and systems. Furthermore, he discussed about the contents of the control room of a geothermal powerplant as well as the commonly used terms in PGPC process control. He also went on to discuss SCS and DCS, which stands for Safety Control System and Distributed Control System respectively. He also discussed the advantages of the said systems as well as risk and safety practices.

The speaker for the third topic, which was Process Control System, was Engr. Matheo Competente, who is a maintenance engineer of the company. He discussed about the Process Control System as well as the Basic Elements such as Control Valves. Furthermore, he discussed about the Level Control System, Pressure Control System as well as the Pressure Control and Pressure Protection or Relief System.

For the fourth topic, the speaker was Engr. Jonel Cordovales, who is the Electrical Technician of the company. He went nt to discuss the overview of the Electrical System of Geothermal Operation as well as the TIWI Asset Electrical System, which includes the following: TGGPP SLD, APRI S6 to PS3 ATS, MCC to Wellsites.

For the fifth and last topic of the webinar, the speaker was Christoper Roces, who is a Professional Mechanical Engineer. He discussed about Reliability and Integrity Management, which includes the vision, mission, and values of PGPC, as well as the PGPC-Reliability and Integrity Management: Policy Statement. He also went ont to discuss the Equipment Life Cycle of the equipment present in the Geothermal Powerplant.

All in all, the topics discussed were of great importance to the students so that they could have and overview of what goes on in a geothermal powerplant and what an electrical engineer does in that environment. They also had the opportunity to learn much about the company who was presenting, giving them another item to add to the list of companies or fields that they would want to dive in. Because of this, the students came out of the webinar more knowledgeable not only in the technical aspect of geothermal powerplants, but also in the practical and professional aspect.