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A document from the 1970s shows that the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (ºÚÁÏÍø¹ÙÍø), Kumasi has always been a leader in connecting classroom knowledge with real-world industry needs.

This long-standing commitment highlights how ºÚÁÏÍø¹ÙÍø has continuously aimed to drive practical solutions for Ghana and the rest of Africa.

The old file introduces a special "Inter-African and International Short Course on Thyristor Control of Motors," organized by the Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department from August 25 to September 6, 1974. The course, led by Dr. W.N. Anokwa, then a Lecturer in the department, wasn't just about theory.

The 1970s curriculum

The curriculum of that 1974 course delved into crucial topics directly relevant to the industries of the time.

Participants first mastered the fundamental Principles of Electric Machines, gaining the essential understanding required for industrial equipment.

Then came the heart of the course: learning about Thyristors and Their Uses. These "thyristors" were special electronic switches, revolutionary for their time.

They offered a new way to precisely control large amounts of electricity, making big machines like factory motors run much better and more efficiently. Think of them as sophisticated, powerful dimmers for industrial equipment.

The course also explored Choppers and Inverters, technologies essential for converting and managing electrical power, ensuring motors in factories could run smoothly and efficiently.

Finally, engineers were taught directly how to apply these new techniques through modules on Controlling Motors in Factories, ensuring the knowledge was immediately transferable to real industrial settings.

Basic switches to smart systems

In the 1970s, those high-power thyristors were truly cutting-edge. They allowed industries to control heavy-duty equipment with unprecedented precision, making factories far more efficient than older, less controlled methods.

Fast forward to today, and while those very high-power thyristors are still indispensable for massive applications (like transmitting electricity across long distances), the way we control motors and industrial processes has undergone a monumental transformation. Modern systems leverage incredible advancements:

Today, engineers harness Faster Electronic Switches like IGBTs and Power MOSFETs. These are essentially the next generation of power switches, even quicker, more energy-efficient, and easier to control than older thyristors, especially for a wide range of smaller to medium-sized machines.

Beyond hardware, industries now rely on Smart Computer Programs. Engineers use advanced software, often called "Vector Control" or "Direct Torque Control," powered by highly intelligent microprocessors.

These systems act like a conductor leading a symphony, telling electric motors exactly how to operate to achieve incredible precision and smoothness.

Finally, a key innovation is Clever Power Delivery through Pulse Width Modulation (PWM).

This ingenious technique rapidly switches electricity on and off thousands of times per second. By precisely adjusting how long the electricity stays "on," engineers can perfectly fine-tune a motor's speed and power, leading to incredibly smooth performance and significantly less wasted energy.

Even with these immense technological leaps, the foundational principles of power electronics and motor control, so carefully laid out in Dr. Anokwa's course in 1974, remain absolutely vital.

Sources:

• Anokwa, W.N. (1974). Course Document: Inter-African and International Short Course on Thyristor Control of Motors (August 25 - September 6, 1974). University of Science Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
• : Information on modern hydraulic head, passive drainage, and green infrastructure principles is based on widely accepted concepts in relevant scientific and engineering fields.