This thesis deals with the development and design of a mechanism used to change the geometry of impeller blades in radial fans. Firstly, a suitable design was selected and then constructed taking into account the forces and loads applied. The blade consists of two parts - fixed, and movable. The movable part extends or retracts behind the fixed part of the blade, changing its length and therefore the operating characteristics of the fan. The simulation part of the work deals with the effect of the changed blade geometry on the fan performance at one particular operating point. The results show a slight reduction in performance, but on the other hand the fan is operable under a wider range of operating conditions. The conclusion of the paper suggests the need for further research to gain a deeper understanding of the capabilities of radial control mechanism fans.

<p>This thesis is a study of how cooling fan control can be improved by using road topography information. Two such controllers are presented, one that uses information available in vehicles produced today, and one that combines GPS-information with digital topographic maps to use information about the road ahead of the vehicle.</p><p>Simulations show that significant energy savings can be obtained, especially during warm conditions and hilly roads. Compared to conventional fan controllers, energy consumption can be cut by up to three quarters. Moreover, this is possible without any hardware redesign.</p>

This thesis is a study of how cooling fan control can be improved by using road topography information. Two such controllers are presented, one that uses information available in vehicles produced today, and one that combines GPS-information with digital topographic maps to use information about the road ahead of the vehicle. Simulations show that significant energy savings can be obtained, especially during warm conditions and hilly roads. Compared to conventional fan controllers, energy consumption can be cut by up to three quarters. Moreover, this is possible without any hardware redesign.

Este trabalho descreve o desenvolvimento de um sistema de controle com compensação de tempo morto aplicado a um ventilador para simular os efeitos do vento em modelos de embarcações. O sistema é instalado no tanque de provas do Departamento de Engenharia Naval da Escola Politécnica da USP. Um sistema de controle baseado em computador é elaborado para a realização dos testes e validação, procedendo-se inicialmente a identificação do sistema a ser controlado. Na malha de controle, o sinal de referência é a velocidade do vento desejada em uma distância pré-definida do ventilador e pode ser tanto um valor constante (representando um vento constante) ou um valor variante no tempo (representando uma rajada de vento). O sistema atuador consiste de um inversor de frequência que aciona o ventilador e a velocidade do vento é medida por um anemômetro, cujo sinal é usado como realimentação para o controlador. A sintonia da malha é realizada pelo método do modelo interno (IMC) e o efeito do tempo morto é observado nos testes, aplicando-se o compensador baseado no Preditor de Smith para minimizá-lo. Pelos resultados dos ensaios, conclui-se que o Preditor de Smith melhora o desempenho do sistema de geração de vento. / This paper describes the development of a control system with dead time compensation applied to a fan to simulate wind effects in models of vessels. The system is installed on the academic towing tank of the Naval Architecture and Oceanic Engineering Department of the University of São Paulo. A control system based on computer is designed for testing and validation, proceeding initially to identify the system to be controlled. In the control loop, the set-point is the desired speed of the wind on a pre-defined distance from the fan and it can be either a constant value (representing a constant wind) or a time-varying value (representing a wind gust). The actuator system consists of a frequency-inverter that drives the fan and the wind speed is measured by an anemometer, whose signal is used as feedback to the controller. The tuning of the controller is made by the internal model control (IMC) and the effect of dead time is observed in the tests, applying the compensator based on Smith Predictor to minimize it. Through the results from the tests, it was concluded that the Smith Predictor improves the performance of the wind generation system.

Este trabalho descreve o desenvolvimento de um sistema de controle com compensação de tempo morto aplicado a um ventilador para simular os efeitos do vento em modelos de embarcações. O sistema é instalado no tanque de provas do Departamento de Engenharia Naval da Escola Politécnica da USP. Um sistema de controle baseado em computador é elaborado para a realização dos testes e validação, procedendo-se inicialmente a identificação do sistema a ser controlado. Na malha de controle, o sinal de referência é a velocidade do vento desejada em uma distância pré-definida do ventilador e pode ser tanto um valor constante (representando um vento constante) ou um valor variante no tempo (representando uma rajada de vento). O sistema atuador consiste de um inversor de frequência que aciona o ventilador e a velocidade do vento é medida por um anemômetro, cujo sinal é usado como realimentação para o controlador. A sintonia da malha é realizada pelo método do modelo interno (IMC) e o efeito do tempo morto é observado nos testes, aplicando-se o compensador baseado no Preditor de Smith para minimizá-lo. Pelos resultados dos ensaios, conclui-se que o Preditor de Smith melhora o desempenho do sistema de geração de vento. / This paper describes the development of a control system with dead time compensation applied to a fan to simulate wind effects in models of vessels. The system is installed on the academic towing tank of the Naval Architecture and Oceanic Engineering Department of the University of São Paulo. A control system based on computer is designed for testing and validation, proceeding initially to identify the system to be controlled. In the control loop, the set-point is the desired speed of the wind on a pre-defined distance from the fan and it can be either a constant value (representing a constant wind) or a time-varying value (representing a wind gust). The actuator system consists of a frequency-inverter that drives the fan and the wind speed is measured by an anemometer, whose signal is used as feedback to the controller. The tuning of the controller is made by the internal model control (IMC) and the effect of dead time is observed in the tests, applying the compensator based on Smith Predictor to minimize it. Through the results from the tests, it was concluded that the Smith Predictor improves the performance of the wind generation system.

Thesis (MEng (Electrical Engineering)--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019 / The purpose of an electrical power system is to supply electrical energy to the customers. Power transformers are required to transform the system voltage from generation to transmission and distribution levels. Protection and control systems must ensure that power system high voltage equipment such as transformers operate and deliver save, reliable and secure electricity supply. The aim of the project research work is to develop and implement a strategy, methods and algorithms for monitoring, protection and voltage control of parallel power transformers based on IEC 61850-9-2 process bus standard. NamPower is a power utility in Namibia. The IEC 61850 protocol for electrical substation automation system is used for the protection and control of 5 power transformers operated in parallel in an existing substation system. The IEC 61850-9-2 process bus standard is however not used in regards of Sampled Values (SV). Protection and control devices are connected to a substation communication network, routers and switches using fibre optic linked Ethernet. Inductive Current Transformers (CTs) and Voltage Transformers (VTs) secondary circuits are hardwired to Intelligent Electronic Devices (IEDs) and fibre optic links are not used for this purpose at process level communication. The research focuses on the implementation of the IEC 61850 standard with Merging Units (MUs) and sampled values to improve the existing implemented protection and control system at NamPower. This includes substation communication networks and MUs used for transformer protection, voltage regulator control and cooling fan control. At the present the CTs located at the transformer bushings and switchgear and the VTs located at the switchgear are hardwired to the inputs on protection and control IEDs. The research focuses on issues with the copper wires for voltage and currents signals and how these issues can be eliminated by using the MUs and the SV protocol. The MUs which are considered in this Thesis is to improve the voltage regulator control and the control of the cooling fan motors. The voltage regulator control IED is situated at the tap change motor drive of the On-Load Tap Changer (OLTC). The IED of each transformer is required to regulate the voltage level of the secondary side bus bar it is connected to. All the regulating IEDs are required to communicate with each other and collectively to control the bus bar voltage depending on the switching configuration of the parallel transformers. The control circuit for controlling the cooling fan motors is hardwired. Temperature analogue signal input into a programmable automation controller IED can be used for controlling the transformer cooling fans. A strategy, methods and algorithms for transformer protection, voltage regulator control and cooling fan motor control of parallel power transformers need to be developed and implemented based on IEC 61850-9-2 process bus. Power utilities and distributors can benefit from interpretation of the IEC 61850-9-2 standard and implementing MUs and SV in substations. MUs can be included in the power transformer protection, automation and control systems. A cost reduction in high voltage equipment, substation installation and commissioning costs and better performance of protection and control system are anticipated.

Bien que la consommation énergétique des processeurs a considérablement diminué, la demande pour des techniques visant à la réduire n’a jamais été aussi forte. En effet, la consommation énergétique des machines haute performance a crûproportionnellement à leurs accroissements en taille. Elle a atteint un tel niveau qu’elle doit être minimisée par tous les moyens. Les processeurs actuels peuvent changer au vol leurs fréquences d’exécution. Utiliser une fréquence plus faible peut mener à une réduction de leurs consommations énergétiques. Cette thèse recherche jusqu’à quel point cette fonctionnalité, appelé DVFS, peut favoriser cette réduction. Dans un premier temps, une analyse d’une machine simple est effectuée pour une meilleure compréhension des différents éléments consommateurs afin de focaliser les optimisations sur ces derniers. La consommation d’un processeur dépend de l’application qui est exécutée. Une analyse des applications est donc effectuée pour mieux comprendre leurs impacts sur cette dernière. Basés sur cette étude, plusieurs outils visant à réduire cette consommation ont été créés. REST, adapte la fréquence d’exécution au regard du comportement de l’application. Le second, UtoPeak, calcule la réduction maximum que l’on peut attendre grâce au DVFS. Le dernier, FoREST, est créé pour corriger les défauts de REST et obtenir cette réduction maximum de la consommationénergétique. Enfin, les applications scientifiques actuelles utilisent généralement plus d’unprocesseur pour leurs exécutions. Cette thèse présente aussi une première tentative de découverte de la borne inférieure sur la consommation énergétique dans ce nouvel environnement d’exécution / Over the past decade, processors have drastically reduced their power consumption. With each new processor generation, new features enhancing the processor energy efficiency are added. However, the demand for energy reductiontechniques has never been so high. Indeed, with the increasing size of high performance machines, their power and energy consumptions have grown accordingly. They have reached a point where they have to be reduced by all possible means.Current processors allow an interesting feature, they can change their operating frequency at run-time. As granted by transistor physics, lower frequency means lower power consumption and hopefully, lower energy consumption. This thesisinvestigates to which extent this processor feature, called DVFS, can be used to save energy. First, a simple machine is analyzed to have a complete understanding of the different power consumers and where optimizations can be focused. It will be demonstrated that only fans and processors allow run-time energy optimizations. Betweenthe two, the processor shows the highest consumption, therefore potentially exposing the higher potential for energy savings. Second, the power consumption of a processor depends on the applications being executed. However, there are as many applications as problems to solve. The focus is then put on applications to understand their impacts on energy consumption. Based on the gathered insights, multiple tools targeting energy savings on a single processor are created. REST, the most naive, tries to adapt the processor state to the stress generated by the application, hoping for energy reduction. The second, UtoPeak, computes the maximum energy reduction one can expect for any tool usingDVFS. It allows to evaluate the efficiency of such systems. The last one, FoREST, was created in order to correct all the flaws of REST and target maximum energy reduction. Last, scientific applications generally need more than one processor to be executed in a decent time. The thesis also presents a first attempt to compute a lower bound in energy reduction when considering this new execution context

This thesis discusses the motivation, origin, history, design guidelines, API, the device drivers and userland utilities of the hardware sensors framework available in OpenBSD. The framework spans multiple utilities in the base system and the ports tree, is utilised by over 75 drivers, and is considered to be a distinctive and ready-to-use feature that sets OpenBSD apart from many other operating systems, and in its root is inseparable from the OpenBSD experience. The present framework, however, is missing the functionality that would allow the user to interface with the fan-controlling part of the hardware monitors. We therefore discuss the topic of fan control and introduce sysctl-based interfacing with the fan-controlling capabilities of microprocessor system hardware monitors. The discussed prototype implementation reduces the noise and power-consumption characteristics in fans of personal computers, especially of those PCs that are designed from off-the-shelf components. We further argue that our prototype is easier, more intuitive and robust compared to solutions available elsewhere.

This thesis discusses the motivation, origin, history, design guidelines, API, the device drivers and userland utilities of the hardware sensors framework available in OpenBSD. The framework spans multiple utilities in the base system and the ports tree, is utilised by over 75 drivers, and is considered to be a distinctive and ready-to-use feature that sets OpenBSD apart from many other operating systems, and in its root is inseparable from the OpenBSD experience. The present framework, however, is missing the functionality that would allow the user to interface with the fan-controlling part of the hardware monitors. We therefore discuss the topic of fan control and introduce sysctl-based interfacing with the fan-controlling capabilities of microprocessor system hardware monitors. The discussed prototype implementation reduces the noise and power-consumption characteristics in fans of personal computers, especially of those PCs that are designed from off-the-shelf components. We further argue that our prototype is easier, more intuitive and robust compared to solutions available elsewhere.