Thesis (MScEng (Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / Thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering Science (Mechanical) at the University of Stellenbosch. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis examines the development of a specialized, high-speed bearing in order to reduce vibration levels, reduce cutting times and increase blade stability during diamond sawing. The sawing process is required to be smooth, straight and unhindered – a task which is made difficult by the extreme hardness of the diamond as well as unseen grains which could potentially ruin the cut by deflecting the blade. This has an adverse effect on the quality of the cut and the yield obtained from the stone. The current equipment used for diamond sawing is very basic and a significant improvement can be made in terms of quality and sawing speed with the addition of an improved bearing. An aerostatic bearing was designed in order to achieve lower vibration levels and increased spindle speeds. A speed of 18 500 rpm was achieved with this bearing. A numerical model of the bearing was built with the aim of predicting the bearing’s dynamic behaviour. A finite element method (FEM) analysis was done to confirm the rigid body assumption made. Experimental modal analysis (EMA) was done to determine the frequencies and damping ratios of the natural modes of the rotor. The model was seen to predict the frequencies of the modes to within 6%. This model would be used for future design work to ensure that the frequencies of these modes are designed outside of the operating speed range of the aerostatic bearing. Tests were done to compare the vibration levels between the conventional machine and the aerostatic machine during sawing. The overall RMS acceleration was reduced by 70% on the housing of the aerostatic machine and by 50% on the diamond clamp. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis ondersoek die ontwikkeling van ‘n gespesialeerde, hoë-spoed laer om vibrasie en sny tye te verminder, asook om lem stabilitiet te verhoog in die diamant sny proses. Die sny proses moet glad, reguit en akkuraat wees, maar dit is nie altyd moontlik nie as gevolg van die variasie in hardheid van die diamant asook die naat in die daimant wat die lem maklik kan laat afwyk. Hierdie het ‘n negative effek op die kwalitiet van die snit. Die konvensionele diamant saag masjien is baie eenvoudig en ‘n groot verbetering in die snit kwalitiet en lemspoed is moontlik as ‘n nuwe laer ontwerp en implementeer kan word. ‘n Aerostatiese laer en rotor is ontwikkel om die vibrasie te verminder en die lemspoed to verhoog. ‘n Lemspoed van 18 500 rpm was verkry met die nuwe laer. ‘n Numeriese model is ontiwkkel om die beweging van die rotor dinamies te bereken. Die Eindige Element Metode (EEM) is gebruik om te bepaal of die aanname dat die rotor rigied is, wel aanvaarbaar is. Eksperimentele Modale Analise (EMA) is gebuik om die natuurlike frekwensies en die dempingsverhoudings vir die rotor te bepaal. Die model het die frekwensies tot binne 6% van die werklike waardes bereken. Hierdie model sal in die toekoms gebruik kan word vir die ontwerp van aerostatiese laers om te verseker dat die natuurlike frekwensies buite die spoedbereik van die aerostatiese masjien val. Toetse is gedoen om die vibrasievlakke van die huidige en die aerostatise masjien te meet tydens die snyproses. Die totale WGK versnelling het met 70% op die huls van die aerostatiese masjien, en met 50% op die diamant dop, verminder.

Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The performance of wet cooling towers can be improved by installing spray nozzles that distribute the cooling water uniformly onto the fill whilst operating at a low pressure head. In this thesis, three commercial spray nozzles are experimentally evaluated in terms of flow and pressure loss characteristics as well as water distribution patterns. The results of the evaluation process highlight the need for spray nozzles with enhanced performance characteristics. The theory required to implement the results of the evaluation process in the design of a cooling tower is presented and discussed. A systematic approach to enhance the performance of a spray nozzle through minor alterations is applied to one of the commercial spray nozzles that was evaluated. The fluid dynamics of an orifice nozzle, such as the effect of a change in pressure head, spray angle, spray height, orifice diameter and wall thickness on drop diameter and spray distance, is experimentally investigated and a model with which a spray nozzle can be designed is finally presented. Two prototype spray nozzles show that it is possible to enhance the performance of spray nozzles and thus wet cooling towers by means of the methods presented. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die werkverrigting van natkoeltorings kan verbeter word deur sproeiers te installeer wat die verkoelingswater uniform versprei op die pakking teen 'n lae pomp drukhoogte. In hierdie tesis word drie kommersiële sproeiers eksperimenteel geëvalueer in terme van vloei en drukverlies eienskappe sowel as water verdelings patrone. Die resultate van die evaluasie proses beklemtoon die behoefte aan sproeiers met verbeterde werkverrigtingseienskappe. Die teorie wat benodig word om die resultate van die evaluasie proses te implementeer in die ontwerp van 'n natkoeltoring word bespreek. 'n Stelselmatige benadering om die werkverrigtings van 'n sproeier te verhoog deur klein veranderinge aan die ontwerp aan te bring, word toegepas op een van die sproeiers wat getoets is. Die vloeidinamika van 'n plaatmondstuk, soos die effek van 'n verandering in drukhoogte, sproeihoek, sproeihoogte, gatdiameter en wanddikte op druppel diameter en sproeiafstand, is eksperimenteel ondersoek en 'n model word aangebied waarmee 'n sproeier ontwerp kan word. Twee prototipe sproeiers wys dat dit moontlik is om die werkverrigting van sproeiers, en dus ook natkoeltorings, te verbeter deur die metodes wat in die tesis aangebied word, toe te pas.

Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Over the past 50 years smart materials have made their appearance in many structures. The thermopiezoelectric ceramic is one of these smart materials. When thermal e ects are considered negligible, then the materials are classified as piezo-ceramic and piezoelectric materials. These so called piezo-ceramics are used as actuator and sensor components in many structures. The use of these components with composite materials is significant due to their application in the aerospace and aeronautics fields. The interaction that the piezoelectric material has with a composite body can be improved in order to reduce the energy requirement of the material for deformation. An objective in the optimisation of composite material structures is to minimise compliance or maximise sti ness uT f, with the laminate ply orientations as design variables, where u and f are displacement and force vectors, respectively. Here, the objective is not the maximisation of sti ness but the maximisation of compliance, with typical constraints being failure criteria. These failure criteria can include theories such as the maximum principle stress, the Tsai-Hill or Tsai-Wu failure theories. The compliance is maximised to accentuate any piezoelectric movement and is for theoretical treatment only. Piezoelectric materials once polarized the materials becomes quasi-isotropic. The piezoelectric materials are isotropic in the plane normal to the direction of the voltage being applied and have altered properties normal to this plane. This change in the material properties can be exploited so that the layup can be altered in orientation to improve performance. The idea is to improve the mechanical capabilities of the structure subject to an electrical input or vice versa. In the works by both Carrera et al. and Piefort, First Order Shear Deformation Theory (FSDT) is used in finite element analysis to characterise the structural and electrical behaviour of a plate or shell. FSDT, also known as the Mindlin-Reissner theory, is a plate bending theory that assumes a transverse shear distribution through the thickness of the plate. This theory is considered an improvement on the standard theories such as the Kircho or Timoshenko theories. Many optimisation techniques exist and are classed as either being direct search or gradient based methods. Particle Swarm Optimisation (PSO) is a direct search method. It mimics the behaviour of a flock of birds or school of fish in their attempt to find food. The PSO’s mathematical statement characterises a set of initial unknown particles within a designated search space that are compared to a set of local best particles and a single global best particle. This comparison is used to update the swarm each run cycle. Regression is a procedure whereby a set of testing data is used to fit a pseudo-function that represents the form the data should take in practice. The aim of this work is to optimise the piezoelectric-composite layer interaction to improve the overall compliance of a structure. Extensive modelling is performed and tested with peer reviewed literature to demonstrate its accuracy. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Oor die afgelope 50 jaar het slim materiale hulle verskyning gemaak in verskeie strukture. Termopiezo-elektriese keramieke is een van hierdie nuwe materiale. Wanneer termiese e ekte onbeduidend is, word hierdie materiale as piezo-elektriese materiale geklassifiseer. Hierdie sogenaamde piezo-keramieke word gebruik as aandrywers en sensoriese onderdele in verskeie strukture. Die kombinasie van hierdie onderdele met saamgestelde materiale het belangrike toepassings in die ruimte- en lugvaartkunde. Die interaksie van die piezo-elektriese materiale met die saamgestelde materiaal strukture kan verbeter word om die energie-vereistes van die materiaal vir vervorming te verminder. ’n Tipiese doel in die optimering van saamgestelde materiaalstrukture is om styfheid uT f te maksimeer met die gelamineerde laag-oriëntasies as ontwerpsveranderlikes, waar u en f onderskeidelik verplasing en kragvektor voorstel. In teenstelling met die optimering van die samestelling wat voorheen gedoen is, is die doel hier nie die maksimering van styfheid nie, maar die minimering van styfheid, met falingskriteria as tipiese beperkings. Die falingskriteria sluit die volgende in: die maksimum spanningsteorie, en die Tsai-Hill of Tsai-Wu falingsteorieë. Die styfheid word geminimeer om piezo-elektriese verplasing te versterk, maar word hierin net teoreties bekyk. Sodra piezo-elektriese materiale gepolariseer word, word hulle quasi-isotropies. Die piezoelektriese materiale is isotropies in die vlak gelyk aan die rigting van die stroomspanning wat daarop toegepas word en het ander eienskappe normaal tot die vlak. Die verandering in die materiaal se eienskappe kan gebruik word sodat beide die saamgestelde materiaal en die piezoelektriese laag se oriëntasie aangepas kan word vir verbeterde werkverrigting. Die idee is om die meganiese vermoëns te verbeter van ’n struktuur wat onderwerp word aan ’n elektriese inset of vice versa. In die literatuur van beide Carrera et al. en Piefort word Eerste Orde Skuifvervormings Teorie (EOST) gebruik in eindige element analises om die strukturele en elektriese gedrag van ’n plaat of dop te karakteriseer. EOST, ook bekend as Mindlin-Reissner teorie, is ’n plaat buigings-teorie wat ’n dwarsvervormingverspreiding aanneem deur die dikte van die plaat. Hierdie teorie word gesien as ’n verbetering op die standaard teorieë soos bv. Kircho of Timoshenko se teorieë. Daar bestaan baie optimeringstegnieke wat geklassifiseer word as ’direkte soek’ of ’hellinggebaseerde’ metodes. Partikel swerm-optimering (PSO) is ’n direkte soekmetode. Dit boots die gedrag van ’n swerm voëls of ’n skool visse in hulle poging om kos te vind, na. PSO se wiskundige stelling karakteriseer ’n aanvanklike stel onbekende partikels binne ’n afgebakende soekgebied wat vergelyk word met ’n stel van die beste plaaslike partikels sowel as ’n enkele beste globale partikel. Die vergelykings word gebruik om die swerm met elke siklus op te dateer. Regressie is ’n metode waarin toetsdata gebruik word om ’n benaderde funksie te konstrueer wat ongeveer voorspel hoe die regte funksie lyk. Die doel van hierdie werk is om die piezoelektriese saamgestelde laag te optimeer en die interaksie van die totale gedrag van die struktuur te verbeter. Uitgebreide modellering word uitgevoer en getoets met eweknie-beoordeelde literatuur om die akkuraatheid en korrektheid te bewys.

Thesis (MScEng (Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 1997. / A computer programme for the simulation of dilute phase pneumatic conveying of solids is presented. This includes positive pressure and vacuum pneumatic conveying. The characteristic conveying parameters such as the conveying absolute pressure, conveying air density, interstitial and average air velocity, particle velocity and voidage are calculated by integrating five differential equations that govern two-phase flow. The two-phase flow is approximated as one-dimensional along the pipe axis. Density and acceleration effects are accounted for. The integration is carried out by means of the Runge-Kutta-Fehlberg method yielding conveying parameter traces along the length ofthe pipeline. A new method is presented for the determination of the solids friction coefficient from the solids motion equation. This allows for a more accurate determination of the solids velocity in the pipeline when compared to currently used methods. The computer model results are compared to experimental results for cement and ice conveying yielding good correlation for the main output parameters. The theory for the scaling and calculation of Roots blower performance characteristics is presented. This is implemented in a Roots blower selection programme as an integral part of determining the prime air mover for the design of a pneumatic conveyor. The aim of providing a fast, user-friendly interface in terms of pipeline geometry input, simulation and data visualisation has been achieved by using the advantages of object orientated programming and the visual user interface of the DELPHI programming language.

Thesis (MScEng (Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / Shunt and shuffle in a vehicle drivetrain are two driveability related phenomena responsible for driver discomfort. They are experienced as a sharp jerk (shunt) followed by a series of longitudinal oscillations (shuffle) and are induced by a rapid change in engine torque. The use of drive‐by‐wire throttles in modern day vehicles enables the onboard electronic control unit to manipulate the driver’s torque demand befoe sending a revised torque demand signal to the engine. In this way a feedback control system can be used to ensure that the drivetrain follows the driver’s torque demand as quickly s possible without inducing shunt or shuffle.      In this project a drivetrain model was derived and its parameters experimentally determined. The accuracy of the model was validated using test data from a vehicle, and the conclusion was made that the model was an accurate vehicle simulation tool. A drivetrain controller was then designed and its performance simulated using the vehicle model. The simulations showed that the controller significantly reduced the shunt and shuffle in the drivetrain thereby improving drier comfort.

Thesis (MScEng (Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / The aerodynamic performance of an existing wind turbine blade optimised for low wind speed conditions is investigated. The aerodynamic characteristics of four span locations are determined from surface pressure measurements and wake surveys with a traversed five-hole probe performed in a low speed wind tunnel for chord Reynolds numbers ranging from 360,000 - 640,000. Two-dimensional modelling of the wind tunnel tests is performed with the commercial computational fluid dynamics code FLUENT. The predictive accuracies of five eddy-viscosity turbulence models are compared. The computational results are compared to each other and experimental data. It is found that agreement between computational and experimental results varies with turbulence model. For lower Reynolds numbers, the Transitional-SST turbulence model accurately predicted the presence of laminar separation bubbles and was found to be superior to the fully turbulent models considered. This highlighted the importance of transitional modelling at lower Reynolds numbers. With increasing angles of attack the bubbles were found to move towards the leading edge and decrease in length. This was validated with experimental data. For the tip blade section, computations implementing the k-ε realizable turbulence model best predicted experimental data. The two-dimensional panel method code, XFOIL, was found to be optimistic with significantly higher lift-to-drag ratios than measured. Three-dimensional modelling of the rotating wind turbine rotor is performed with the commercial computational fluid dynamics code NUMECA. The Coefficient of Power (Cp) predicted varies from 0.440 to 0.565 depending on the turbulence model. Sectional airfoil characteristics are extracted from these computations and compared to two-dimensional airfoil characteristics. Separation was found to be suppressed for the rotating case. A lower limit of 0.481 for Cp is proposed based on the experimental data. / Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies

Thesis (MScEng (Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2008. / This study investigates practical passive methods to improve the seakeeping of a Hydrofoil Supported Catamaran (Hysucat). The Hysucat is a hybrid vessel combining hydrofoil efficiency with the stability of catamarans. The seakeeping of the Hysucat was initially investigated experimentally to determine what seakeeping improvements are inherent to the Hysucat design. The results showed that the seakeeping is improved by 5-30%. A passive suspension system for the main hydrofoil of the Hysucat was designed and tested. A concept development strategy was followed for the design of the suspension system as such a system had never been investigated previously. Detailed specifications for the design were developed and concepts that could satisfy the customer and engineering requirements were generated. Numerical simulation models for the Hysucat and the final concepts were derived assuming a simplified 2nd order system to describe the seakeeping dynamics of the demi-hulls. Unknown parameters were determined using parameter estimation techniques. Representative parameter values were calculated from multiple towing tank experiments. Theory describing the motion of a hydrofoil in an orbital velocity wave field was combined with the hull model to simulate the Hysucat as well as the suspension system concepts. The models indicated that the concept where the main hydrofoil was attached to a spring loaded arm, that was free to pivot in response to orbital waves, was the most feasible in damping out vertical transmitted accelerations. Experimental tests indicated that little improvement was achieved with the suspension system at low frequencies. At resonance the suspension system was effective in decreasing the heave of the vessel by up to 27%. The pitch and acceleration response results showed improvements at the higher encounter frequencies of up to 50%. The calm water resistance of the vessel increased by 10% over the Hysucat with rigidly attached hydrofoils; however was still 24% less than the hull without foils.

Thesis (MScEng (Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the primary circuit components of high temperature reactors, various unwanted particles have been found. These particles include, for example, graphite and silver- 110 (110mAg). The silver-110 (110mAg) particles are radioactive, with a half-life of 253 days. The presence of radioactive particles in the primary circuit components constitutes an unwanted maintenance problem from a radiation hazard point of view. The development of a method to remove these particles from the helium stream is therefore needed. This thesis consideres two possible methods of removing silver from the helium stream, namely laser ablation of microparticles and electrostatic precipitation. These methods require the generation of silver ions or charged particles, the deflection of these particles in a helium gas stream passing through an electric field and the subsequent plate-out of these particles onto deflection electrodes. To find a suitable method of generating ions, various methods to generate the silver ions were investigated and evaluated. These methods include existing ion sources, thermionic, field and photoelectric emission and laser ablation of microparticles. No existing ion sources could be found which could be utilised in helium at high pressure. From calculations it was concluded that thermionic, field and photoelectric emission could also not be used to raise the energy of the emitted electrons sufficiently to ionize silver in a helium flight path. These methods were found not to be feasible ion sources in helium at high pressures. However, laser ablation of microparticles was found to constitute a feasible technology. Laser ablation was successfully utilised by Nichols et al. (2000) to deflect silver nanoparticles in an electric field across a two bar helium stream. An apparatus, similar to the one developed by Nichols et al. (2000), was designed and built. The apparatus included a silver insertion mechanism and tests with this apparatus were called the microparticle tests. To determine the efficacy of the silver insertion mechanism, the microparticle tests were done without the use of a laser. It was found that a laser was not necessary as microparticles collected on both the deflection electrodes. Dielectrophoresis was proposed as a possible explanation for the deflection and the plate-out of the mcroparticles. To theoretically model the deflection of the silver particles, two models were proposed, namely the deterministic and the stochastic deflection models. The latter describes the deflection of atoms, ions and polarized particles by using probability theory. From this model it was found that the Brownian motion force is far larger that the force created by the polarizibility of the atom due to an electric field. The deterministic deflection model describes the deflection of larger particles in a continuum. From this model it was found that a silver microparticle with a radius of 3 mm in a helium stream with bulk velocity of 0.0198 m/s would deflect 4.6 mm per helium flight path length of 140 mm. From these calculation it was found that the apparatus which had been built was not long enough to deflect and plate-out all the silver microparticles. The dielectrophoresis force on nanoparticles cannot be calculated, as the theory of dielectrophoresis is only valid for particles with diameter larger than 1 mm. Changes were therefore made to the apparatus to generate nanoparticles as their mobility is larger than that of microparticles. The nanoparticles were created by means of an arc discharge in helium; therefore tests with this modified apparatus were called the arc discharge test. The nanoparticles so created, deflected and deposited on both deflection electrodes. With the use of an atomic force microscope some of the particles could be classified as microparticles. According to the deterministic deflection model they should not have deflected. Combined with the fact that oxygen was in the plasma, due to the oxidation of the electrodes, a hypothesis of bipolar charging was thus proposed. The deterministic deflection model was used and supplemented with field and diffusion charging calculations, to support this hypothesis. A reasonable correlation between the theoretical model and this experimental results was obtained. Based on the arc discharge test, electrostatic precipitation was proposed as the indicated means of scrubbing silver and other particles such as graphite from a helium stream. It is recommended that a new apparatus be built and that the deterministic deflection model be used to predict the deflection of the particles. With this apparatus the uncertainties of breakdown voltage, the effect of thermionic emission and the size of the particles, all of which have been identified as being important, can then also be determined. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In die primêre komponente van die kringloop van hoë temperatuurreaktors, was verskillende ongewenste partikels soos grafiet en silwer-110 (110mAg) teenwoordg. Silwer- 110 (110mAg) is radioaktief met ’n halfleeftyd van 253 dae. Vanuit ’n radiasie-risiko oogpunt word daar onderhoudsimplikasies geskep deur die teenwoordigheid van radioaktiewe partikels in die primêre komponente. Die ontwikkeling van ’n metode om hierdie partikels uit die heliumstroom the verwyder was dus nodig. Hierdie tesis ondersoek twee moontlike metodes van verwydering van silwer uit die heliumstroom, naamlik laser-ablasie van mikropartikels en elektrostatiese presipitasie. Hierdie metodes benodig die generasie van silwer ione of gelaaide partikels, die defleksie daarvan in ’n heliumstroom wat deur ’n elektriese veld vloei en die platering van die partikels op defleksie elektrodes. Om ’n geskikte metode the vind wat ione genereer was, verskillende metodes om die silwer ione te verkry, ondersoek en geëvalueer. Hierdie metodes sluit in bestaande ioonbronne, termioniese, veld en fotoëlektriese emissie en laser-ablasie van mikropartikels. Geen ioonbronne was gevind wat gebruik kan word in helium by hoë druk nie. Die gevolgtrekking is gemaak vanaf berekeninge dat termioniese, veld en fotoëlektriese emissie ook nie gebruik kan word om die energie van die voortgebronge elektrone genoeg te verhoog om silwer in ’n heliumstroom te ioniseer nie. Daar was gevind dat hierdie metodes nie geskik is as ioonbronne in helium by hoë druk nie. Daarenteen was laser-ablasie van mikropartikels gevind om ’n geskikte tegnologie voor te stel. Laser-ablasie van mikropartikels was suksesvol deur Nichols et al. (2000) gebruik om silwer nanopartikels te deflekteer in ’n elektriese veld oor helium van twee bar. ’n Apparaat soortgelyk aan Nichols et al. (2000) se eksperiment, was dus ontwerp en gebou. Die apparaat het ’n silwer insitmeganisme bevat en toetse met hierdie apparaat was die mikropartikel toetse genoem. Om die effektiwiteit van die insitmeganisme te bepaal, was toetse gedoen sonder opstelling van die laser. Daar was eksperimenteel gevind dat die laser nie nodig was nie, omdat mikropartikels op beide defleksie elektrodes geplateer het. Dielektroforese was voorgestel as ’n moontlike verduideliking vir deflektering en platering vir die silwer mikropartikels. Om die defleksie van silwer partikels teoreties te moduleer was twee modelle voorgestel, naamlik deterministiese en stogastiese defleksiemodelle. Laasgenoemde beskryf die defleksie van atome, ione en gepolariseerde partikels deur gebruik te maak van waarskynlikheidsteorie. Die stogastiese defleksiemodel dui aan dat die Brownian bewegingskrag veel groter is as die krag wat geskep word deur die polarisasie van ’n atoom as gevolg van ’n elektriese veld. Die deterministiese defleksiemodel beskryf die defleksie van groter partikels in ’n kontiuum. Met hierdie model was gevind dat silwer mikropartikels met ’n radius van 3 mmin ’n heliumstroom van snelheid van 0.0198 m/s, 4.6 mm sal deflekteer per 140 mm van heliumstroom lengte. Dit bewys dat die apparaat wat gebou was, se lengte onvoldoende was om al die silwer mikropartikels te deflekteer en te laat neerslaan. Die dielektroforese krag van nanopartikels kan nie uitgewerk word nie, omdat die dielektroforese model slegs geldig is vir partikels groter as 1 mm. Veranderings was dus aan die apparaat gemaak om nanopartikels te genereer omdat hul mobiliteit hoër is as die van mikropartikels. Die nanopartikels was geskep deur gebruik van ’n boogontlading in helium; daarom was toetse met hierdie gemodifiseerde apparaat die boogontladingstoets genoem. Die nanopartikels wat so geskep was, het gedeflekteer en het op beide elektrodes neergeslaan. Met die gebruik van ’n atomiese krag mikroskoop was dit gevind dat sommige van hierdie partikels mikropartikels was. Volgens die deterministiese defleksiemodel moes hul nie gedeflekteer het nie. Gekombineerd met die feit dat daar, weens oksidasie van die elektrodes, suurstof in die plasma was, was ’n hipotese van bipolêre lading voorgestel. Die deterministiese defleksiemodel is saam met die veld- en diffusielading gebruik om hierdie hipotese te staaf. ’n Redelike korrelasie tussen die teoretiese en eksperimentele data was gevind. Gebaseer op die boogontladingstoets, was elektrostatiese presipitasie voorgestel as ’n metode om silwer en ander partikels soos grafiet uit ’n heliumstroom te verwyder. Daar word voorgestel dat ’n nuwe apparaat gebou word en dat die deterministiese defleksiemodel gebruik word vir die bepaling van defleksie van die partikels. Deur die nuwe apparaat te gebruik kan die onsekerhede van deurslagspanning, effek van termioniese emissie en grootte van die partikels wat geidentifiseer is as belangrik, ook bepaal word.

Thesis (MScEng (Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / Cooling tower rain zone performance characteristics such as the loss coefficient and the Merkel number are evaluated and simulated. To this end the influence of drop diameter and drop deformation on the velocity, path length and cooling of single water drops are investigated. Experimental drop size and pressure drop data over a counterflow rain zone are presented and the effect of drop deformation on the pressure drop is investigated using the experimental data and CFD. Using the experimental drop size data and CFD, the performance uncertainty produced by using the Rosin-Rammler drop distribution function as opposed to the discrete drop distribution data is investigated. CFD models are developed to investigate the feasibility of modelling rain zones by assuming a constant drop diameter and to establish which diameter definition is the most representative of a particular polydisperse drop distribution. These models were used to validate the correlations for the rain zone performance characteristics proposed in literature.

Thesis (MScEng (Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2008. / A solution is sought for the measurement of human deep tendon reflexes as part of a comprehensive patient condition monitoring system for use in a telemedicine context. This study focused on the development, testing and performance evaluation of a prototype compact patellar tendon reflex measurement system that is able to provide a quantitative reflex evaluation for use by medical practitioners and in a telemedicine environment. A prototype system was developed that makes use of Xsens MTx orientation sensors, force-sensing resistors and an electromyogram (EMG) to measure the reflex response. Suitable parameters identified for analysis included the change in pitch, angular velocity and acceleration of the lower leg, the EMG response, the tendon impact, and various latencies associated with these measurements. Other information considered included the age, mass, and physical dimensions of the test subject. Clinical testing was performed to collect data to evaluate the system performance. Subjective reflex evaluations were conducted by three doctors according to a standard reflex grading scale using video recordings of the tests. Self-organizing maps and multi-layer feed-forward (MLFF) artificial neural networks (ANNs) were used to analyze the collected data with the aim of pattern identification, data classification and reflex grading prediction. It was found that the MLFF network delivered the correct reflex grading with an accuracy of 85%, which was of the same order as the rate of differences between the subjective reflex evaluations performed by the doctors (80%). Furthermore, analysis of the data suggested that certain parameters were not necessary for the autonomous evaluation, such as EMG data and the tendon impact. The use of ANNs to analyze a reflex measurement as proposed by this study offers an accurate, repeatable and concise representation of the reflex that is familiar to doctors and suitable for use in a general clinical setting or for telemedicine purposes.