In line with its commitment to safe nuclear power generation, the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station (KNPS) replaced the outdated vibration monitoring system with a modern on-line vibration monitoring system. This will allow plant personnel to monitor components on a continuous basis which will provide faster response time in the scenario of excessive vibrations of the primary components. This study focuses on the analysis of the vibration of the primary components of the KNPS by analysing the frequency spectra of the vibration signals of the primary components and comparing these to reference signatures obtained during similar operating conditions. The condition of the vibration sensors will also be evaluated. In order to obtain a deeper understanding of the vibration behaviour and hence vibration signatures of the KNPS primary reactor components, a simplified mathematical model of the primary components is developed, based on the system of elasto-dynamic equations. The equations are solved numerically and used to simulate the KNPS vibration monitoring system. The mechanical system is modelled. Time series are generated and Fast Fourier Transforms (FFT) are calculated to simulate the new KNPS monitoring system. In the simulation mechanical degradation of the primary components as well as sensor degradation is simulated. The purpose of this study is to indicate whether mechanical degradation has occurred in the primary components of the plant and to validate the vibration signals. At the same time the study aims to lay a foundation for future monitoring and interpretation of vibration signatures by simulating the vibration and the monitoring signals. It was found that the primary components had not been affected by mechanical degradation as no deviations in resonances were detected in the frequency signatures. A small number of vibration sensors were found to have deteriorated; hence replacement / maintenance was proposed. The mechanical model and the simulation of the monitoring signals proved to be useful to understand and interpret the vibration of the KNPS primary components. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Nuclear Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

In line with its commitment to safe nuclear power generation, the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station (KNPS) replaced the outdated vibration monitoring system with a modern on-line vibration monitoring system. This will allow plant personnel to monitor components on a continuous basis which will provide faster response time in the scenario of excessive vibrations of the primary components. This study focuses on the analysis of the vibration of the primary components of the KNPS by analysing the frequency spectra of the vibration signals of the primary components and comparing these to reference signatures obtained during similar operating conditions. The condition of the vibration sensors will also be evaluated. In order to obtain a deeper understanding of the vibration behaviour and hence vibration signatures of the KNPS primary reactor components, a simplified mathematical model of the primary components is developed, based on the system of elasto-dynamic equations. The equations are solved numerically and used to simulate the KNPS vibration monitoring system. The mechanical system is modelled. Time series are generated and Fast Fourier Transforms (FFT) are calculated to simulate the new KNPS monitoring system. In the simulation mechanical degradation of the primary components as well as sensor degradation is simulated. The purpose of this study is to indicate whether mechanical degradation has occurred in the primary components of the plant and to validate the vibration signals. At the same time the study aims to lay a foundation for future monitoring and interpretation of vibration signatures by simulating the vibration and the monitoring signals. It was found that the primary components had not been affected by mechanical degradation as no deviations in resonances were detected in the frequency signatures. A small number of vibration sensors were found to have deteriorated; hence replacement / maintenance was proposed. The mechanical model and the simulation of the monitoring signals proved to be useful to understand and interpret the vibration of the KNPS primary components. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Nuclear Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2011.

Thesis (MTech (Quality))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2011. / This research project in Procurement Quality Engineering was conducted at a Nuclear Power Generation Company in the Western Cape, South Africa. During the past decade, quality management has become increasingly recognised as highly desirable for all organisations at all levels. All organisations, to varied degrees, can benefit from the application of quality management skills in some parts of their daily operations. The research project will investigate the impact or effect of late deliveries of spares on the operational cost of the organisation. The organisation is not aware what impact the delivery of spares has on operating costs. Against the above background, the problem to be researched within the ambit of this dissertation reads as follows: "Poor product and / or service delivery from Vendors and / or Suppliers have an adverse impact on the output of the Procurement Quality Department" .The primary research objectives of this study are the following: ~ To emphasise the importance of quality within the supply chain. ~ To investigate the impact of non-conforming items delivered to a Nuclear Power Plant. ~ To determine measures which can be put in place to improve communication between suppliers, vendors, buyers and procurement quality engineering. ~ To determine or investigate the cost of poor quality in the organisation. ~ To improve the quality of goods and services through the application of a quality management system within the supply chain. The research method used in this research project involved both qualitative and quantitative research processes. Questionnaires and statistical techniques were used to analyse the data, and to draw conclusions and recommend possible areas for improvement. The research methodology falls within the ambit of a case study.

Public participation can be defined as ...”a process leading to a joint effort by stakeholders, technical specialists, the authorities and the proponent who work together to produce better decisions than if they had acted independently" (Greyling, 1999, p. 20). In South Africa, public participation processes are legally driven and form part a statutory part of environmental impact assessments. Many environmental impact assessments have been undertaken in South Africa, but the environmental impact assessment undertaken for the proposed construction of a demonstration module pebble bed modular reactor was perhaps one of the biggest studies undertaken to date from a public participation process point of view (Smit, 2003). The main aim of this mini-dissertation was to evaluate the public participation process followed for the environmental impact assessment of the demonstration module pebble bed modular reactor at Koeberg in the Western Cape Province against the criteria for fairness and competence as set out by Webler (In: Renn et al., 1995). Despite the fact that this work is eleven years old, it is still regarded as a benchmark for the evaluation of public participation processes in environmental decision making (Abelson et al., 2003). Webler (In: Renn et al., 1995) developed a normative theory for fairness and competence in public participation based on the theory of ideal speech of German sociologist Jürgen Habermas. Habermas’ main contribution to science was his theory of universal pragmatics (Author unknown, 2005). Universal pragmatics is a theory aimed at explaining how language is used to ensure mutual understanding and agreement. Webler (In: Renn et al., 1995) argues that the conditions of universal pragmatics, if applied to public participation, points towards the concepts of fairness (providing everyone with the opportunity to participate) and competence [providing participants (called interested and affected parties (I&APs) with the opportunity to make, question and validate speech acts]. Habermas advocates that each statement (or speech act) makes at least one validity claim and that there is a presupposition that the speaker can validate each claim to the satisfaction of all communication partners, should this be necessary (Perold, 2006). Furthermore, Habermas identifies four different types of validity claims, each having to do with a specific type of statement. In his theory, communicative speech acts have to do with comprehensibility; constantive speech acts with truth/correctness; regulative speech acts with normative rightness and representative speech acts with sincerity. Webler (In: Renn et al., 1995) developed a set of criteria to evaluate the fairness and competence in public participation. This set of criteria was applied to the public participation process of the case study. The study found that the process followed in the case study did not fare particularly well in either fairness or competence, but that fairness was slightly better than competence. The most alarming finding was that little attempt was made to ensure that validity claims – especially constantive (truth and factual information) – were validated or redeemed as this left the door open for misinterpretation, politics and incorrectness. It was also found that I&APs were, for the most, prevented from participating in the decision-making process. This finding may or may not be interpreted as negative as the public participation consultant never made a claim towards power sharing as well as the fact that there are widely differing opinions regarding the level to which public participation should take place. It was suggested that at least some elements of power sharing be incorporated into future processes, that validity claims – especially constantive (theoretical/factual) and therapeutic (regarding feelings and emotions) – must be able to stand up to scrutiny and should be validated. Finally, it was suggested that more attention be given to representative speech acts (statements regarding emotions, perceptions and feelings). / Dr. J. M. Meeuwis

Dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology: Quality in the Faculty of Engineering at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2013 / Many top performing businesses, which achieve superior levels of success and sustainability, have a sound, implemented, and well maintained, Quality Management System (QMS). The correlation between business success and an implemented management system has been shown in numerous papers. This research, which culminates in a quantitative measure of QMS performance, was conducted at Eskom’s Koeberg Nuclear Power Station (KNPS). The power station is the operating leg of the Koeberg Operating Unit (KOU). The researcher is a QMS lead auditor in the KNPS Quality Assurance Department. A program of audits is planned based on the KOU quality and safety manual and the national regulatory licencing requirements. The audit monitoring program is then implemented over a three year period and considers all the management system processes which impact on nuclear safety and business performance. The individual audits each consider ISO 9001 criteria in context of the business area audited. Each major business area (e.g. design, maintenance, etc.) within the power station adheres to all generic ISO 9001 QMS clauses and considerations, such as documentation management, records management, etc. Each process or business area audit is thus effectively a QMS audit. The audit results, when combined are therefore a representative measure of the overall organisational QMS performance. The potential value to be gained from the audit results and data accrued over the monitoring period has not been optimised to maximise the return on investment to Eskom. The research problem statement thus proposes that the performance measurement capability of the quality management system at Eskom's Koeberg Power Station is insufficient. This diminishes management's ability to identify business risk resulting from management system deficiencies, which impacts negatively on business performance. The research question seeks to determine how the performance measurement capability of the QMS can be improved to assist management in identifying business risk resulting from quality management system deficiencies in order to improve business performance. The research objectives are supported by the literature study, which identifies the quality management methods currently used in order to measure and subsequently improve business performance. It also shows how QMS performance measurement, when deconstructed and analysed can provide the required insight for supporting management decision making. The research approach is considered inductive in that a theory is developed based on the collection and the analysis of that data. Applied research, will thus serve as the basis of the research methodology as it is considered the most appropriate research approach, based on the need to answer practical questions around the measurement of QMS performance philosophy. The research shows that by introducing additional theming and severity data into the secondary audit findings data, it is possible over time to extract high level strategic direction information when analysing the additional metadata. The dimensions and value of the QMS Performance measuring instrument are: Ø A cause and effect theming philosophy of audit findings providing an additional context to business improvement advice to management. Ø The provision of a QMS process deficiency locator / identifier which targets management action areas for improvement. Ø The provision of a quantitative measure of the management system performance, providing a reference from which to improve. By providing a quantifiable measure of an organisations QMS performance, a reference point is provided to gauge QMS performance and also render a definitive measure to enable performance improvement of the business.