The workshop on improving energy services to support laboratory infrastructure at health facilities in Haiti was sponsored by the USG PEPFAR Program and the Haiti National Reference Laboratory Training Curriculum. The workshop was prepared by the USAID Office of Infrastructure & Engineering, with Training Instructor Walt Ratterman.
The workshop agenda outlined a comprehensive program to improve energy services at health facilities in Haiti. Day 1 began with introductions and introductory remarks, followed by background information and course introduction. Participants learned about the roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders, including students, teachers, translators, trainers, and hosts. Program information, goals, and key objectives were also discussed.
Energy systems overview was a key topic on Day 1, covering why systems fail, basic electrical principles, and short quizzes on basic electrical principles. Participants learned about loads versus sources, watt-hour concept, energy efficiency, and overview of various system configurations. Class discussion was also a part of the day’s activities.
Day 2 focused on equipment and inverter/battery design, with a load equipment site visit and daily watt-hour calculations. Participants learned about inverter/battery system design, guest speakers presented on locally available inverters and batteries, and approximate costs and future models were discussed.
Day 3 introduced generators to the system, covering when to use a generator, the role of the generator in the system, and sizing of the generator. Guest speakers from generator manufacturers discussed generator sizing, maintenance, fuel consumption, and various models of engines.
The workshop continued on Day 4 with a discussion on when to consider solar power and how to design a system with solar panels. Guest speakers from the solar industry discussed basic principles of photovoltaics, system concepts and components, and design considerations. A hands-on look at various components in class was also part of the day’s activities.
Day 5 focused on the installation of inverter/battery systems, covering physical installation, AC OUT connections, AC IN connections, DC connections, basic programming requirements, operation, and maintenance. Trouble shooting and discussion of a handbook prepared for the class were also part of the day’s activities.
Power conditioning beyond the inverter/battery system was discussed on Day 6, with a student guest speaker presenting on various types of power conditioning equipment available. Engineer Jakob presented on various types of power conditioning equipment.
Installation work was the focus of Days 6-10, with participants learning about wire sizing, load consideration, temperature consideration, voltage drop, types of wire, branch circuit design, overcurrent protection, disconnect switches, mounting and racks, grounding, and DC wiring. Guest speakers from the solar industry presented on voltage drop tables and interactive V.D. excel sheets.
System programming and maintenance were discussed on Day 10, covering programming, load management, and maintenance issues. The workshop concluded on Day 11 with a wrap-up, finish discussion on any uncompleted topics, questions and answers, and an examination.