In line with its commitment to safe nuclear power generation, the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station (KNPS) replaced the outdated vibration monitoring system with a modern on-line vibration monitoring system.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.

With the rising electricity, raw material and fossil fuel prices, as well as the relatively low selling price of steel, the steel industry has been put under strain to produce steel as cost–effectively as possible. Ideally the industry requires a cost–effective, stable source of energy to cater for its electricity and energy needs. Modern High Temperature Reactors are in a position to provide industries with not only electricity, but also process heat. Therefore, a study was conducted into the economic viability of centering the steel industry on nuclear power. This study considered 3 technology options: a nuclear facility to cater for solely the electricity needs of the steel industry; a nuclear facility producing hydrogen for the process needs of the steel industry; and a nuclear facility co–generating electricity and process heat for the steel industry. An economic model for each of the 3 scenarios was developed that factored in the various cost considerations for each of the 3 options. In general, this included the construction costs, operational and maintenance cost, build time and interest rate of the financed amount. For each option, the model calculated the cost of production per unit output. The outputs were electricity for option 1, hydrogen for option 2, and both electricity and process heat for option 3. Each model was optimised based on a realistic best case scenario for the capital and operational costs and respective best case cost per unit outputs for each of the options were calculated. Using the optimised cost model, it was shown that electricity produced from nuclear power was more cost effective than current electricity prices in South Africa. Similarly, it was shown that a nuclear facility could produce heat at a more cost–effective means than by the combustion of natural gas. Hydrogen proved to be not cost effective compared to reformed natural gas as a reducing agent for iron ore. Based on the cost savings, a cash–flow analysis showed that the payback period for a nuclear power plant that produced electricity for the steel industry would be around 12 years at 0% interest and 15 years at 5% interest. Due to the long payback period and lack of certainty in the steel industry, any steel manufacturer would opt for purchasing electricity from a nuclear based electricity utility rather than building a facility themselves. Savings of over $70 million/year were achievable for a 2 million tonne/year electric arc furnace. Overall this analysis showed that electricity generation is the only viable means for nuclear power to be integrated with the steel manufacturing industry. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Nuclear Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

In the afterglow of Japan’s dramatic economic growth during the post-war period, the growth mentality is still apparent in contemporary Japan. The powerful business communities that helped the industrialization of the country are still structurally interconnected with the political elites. As a result, the growth interests of the corporations are reflected in industrial and environmental policies. Public opinion is deliberately shaped to allow the growth ideology while the environment is used as a symbol to be protected. This thesis will analyse how public opinion and responses are manipulated so that the growth goals are achieved under the guise of national benefit. This thesis will examine two cases of growth politics: nuclear policy and the Eco Town project in Japan to analyse the influence of the growth mentality and the linkages. The conclusion is that if Japan continues to overreach for economic growth at the cost of the environment and if public scrutiny is kept to a minimum, Japan will fail to secure either economic or environmental sustainability. / Graduate / 0615 / nao57526@hotmail.com

This thesis attempts to provide a brief historical outline of the environmental movement in Taiwan and the unique political situation that has directly affected how the movement has progressed. Thereafter, it looks at some examples of environmental disputes that have occurred in recent years, paying special attention to the ways the environmental movement has interacted with the government. This provides the background to frame the analysis, which will shed light on the reasons for the current state of distrust and antagonistic interactions between the environmental movement and the government. Finally, the thesis evaluates whether such interactions with the government is helpful for the environmental movement in achieving its goals, while suggesting other possible models of environmentalism in Taiwan.

A rotating, flat plate condensation experiment has been developed to investigate the heat of the Rotating Bubble Membrane Radiator (RBMR). The RBMR is a proposed heat rejection system for space applications which uses working fluid condensation on the inside surface of a rotating sphere to reject heat to space. The flat plate condensation heat transfer experiment simulates the microgravity environment of space by orienting the axis of rotation parallel to the gravitational vector and normal to the surface of the plate. The condensing surface is cooled to simulate the rejection of heat to cold surface. The working fluid is a super heated steam. The results obtained include relationships between the overall heat transfer coefficient as a function of the temperature difference between the working fluid and a cold environment, both placed in dimensionless groups, and plate angular rotational speeds. This empirical relationship is useful for choosing the optimum rotational speed for the flat plate radiator given a desired heat rejection load. A RBMR prototype, using full sphere shell, was designed and built completely in this research efforts and ready to be tested in future planned experiments in microgravity environment. This RBMR is the first one ever built to investigate the RBMR concepts experimentally. This study also provides the basis for designing new heat rejection systems utilizing centrifugal forces and condensation phenomena in both space and ground applications. / Graduation date: 1993

Thesis (doctoral)--Universiẗat Göttingen, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. xiv-xxxv).

Univ., Diss.--Göttingen, 2005.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1997. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 75-78). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 1997. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 75-78). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Michigan, 1985.