Arid Zone Journal of Engineering, Technology and Environment, March, 2018; Vol. 14(1):94-103 Copyright © Faculty of Engineering, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Nigeria. Print ISSN: 1596-2490, Electronic ISSN: 2545-5818, www.azojete.com.ng 94 LOW POWER ELECTROMECHANICAL DEVICE FOR VENTILATION IN RURAL HOMES S. T. Yusuf 1,* , M. S. Julius 2 , M. Abdulkadir 3 , A. M. Yatim 4 1,2 Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Taraba State University, Nigeria. 3 Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria. 4 Department of Energy Conversion, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. *Corresponding author’s e-mail address: 1 theophylussimon@gmail.com, Co-authors’ e-mail address: , 2 mboli4god@gmail.com, 3 muabdulkadir@yahoo.com, 4 abdhalim@utm.my Abstract The global rise of energy consumption has highlighted the needs to develop systems with energy saving capability. This paper describes the development of a low power electromechanical system for indoor ventilation. The proposed system consists of electromechanical system (actuator), motion translator, position controller, spring and inductive proximity sensor. Experimental test of the prototype was carried out to compare with the simulation results. The developed prototype was tested on a commonly sized blade normally used for ventilation. The system produces a rotational speed of 550 rpm at 4.4 W of power, which should be sufficient for indoor ventilation and cooling of simple homes and buildings. Keywords: Permanent magnet, Electromagnet, Ventilation. 1. Introduction Actuators/motors are custom design based on their application. In order to achieve good performance and low power consumption, the characteristics and the limitations of the actuator should be known in the controller design process. In many tropical countries, most of the rural communities are not connected to the grid. Therefore, low power device will be suitable by utilizing a limited power resource of energy over an extended period of time. Also, increase in the amount of carbon dioxide and decrease in the oxygen content of the air have caused discomfort, headache, and lethargy. There is now evidence as in Kreichelt et al. (1996) the deleterious effects may also result largely from interference with the heat-regulating mechanism of the body. A proposed design by Won-Jong and Ali (2010) has demonstrated that power consumption can be reduced by using local excitation approach; power consumed by the motor is 95W. Energy saving has become an area of interest for researchers (Paolo, 2013; Isermann, 2005; Janocha, 2010) Linear electromagnetic actuators (Eyabi and Washington, 2006; Ryan et al. 2005) produce a space range of stroke. Due to the terminal low voltage which is usually from Pulse width modulation, the current is built in the winding. Actuator controlled technology by (Dupraz et al. 2006; Shaohua, 2008) has become an increasingly useful method to decrease the high input current consumption, by opening or closing the circuit at the optimal phase of current or voltage. (Duggirala, and Lal, 2005) Design a system with fifty percent duty cycle. Other application of motors for low duty cycle operation is on clamping system.