Thesis (MTech (Electrical Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2009 / Traditional high voltage power transformers feature sensors measuring basic parameters from oil and gas and are limited to on-site monitoring. Unforeseen failures and breakdowns on these transformers have led to extensive financial losses even with planned maintenance schedules in place. A distinct need has arisen to actively monitor and identify causes of such failures. However, no or little infrastructure exists for effective remote condition monitoring. Wireless sensor networks can be introduced to actively monitor and identify causes of such failures. Sensor motes in the network are battery operated and therefore constrained by limited energy in these batteries. An alternative to battery-powered sensor motes is the conversion of available energy harvested from the surrounding environment into useable electrical energy powering the sensor motes. The primary objective of this research was to examine methods to harvest energy from both the environment and high voltage power transformer. A low cost and feasibly sized hybrid energy harvesting power management prototype was successfully developed that enabled sustained sensor mote operation for prolonged condition monitoring of high voltage transformers. The sensor mote utilised a piezoelectric cantilever to generate usable electrical energy from the transformer tank vibration. Together with solar energy harvesting, the system allowed for a battery-less self-sustained wireless sensor mote capable of autonomously monitoring its surroundings. The power management system's modular architecture provided for the inclusion of additional energy harvesting techniques. This allowed condition monitoring solutions not exclusively for power transformers but proposed an extensible condition monitoring solution for various applications.

Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Master of Technology: Electrical Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology 2014 / The research in this thesis deals with the application of Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) practices in the modelling of power systems. More particularly, we have presented the modelling hybrid photovoltaic wind integrated in an electrical distribution network using SysML (System Modelling Language) which is a modelling language in support of MBSE. MBSE refers to a formalised practice of systems development through the application of modelling principles, methods, languages and tools to the entire lifecycle of a system. Generally speaking, the modelling of power systems is performed using software such as Matlab Simulink, DigSilent, PowerWorld etc. These software programs allow modelling of a system considering only a specific viewpoint, depending on the objective that is to be assessed. The advantage of the SysML over the above mentioned modelling languages lies from the fact that SysML includes different viewpoints of a system. These views are known as the Four Pillars of SysML. Pillar One refers to the requirements of a system and includes all the functional and non-functional requirements. Pillar Two deals with the structure representation of a system by considering all its subsystems and their different connections. Pillar Three considers the behaviour of a system and includes its activities, sequences and different states. The last Pillar includes the detailed characteristics, physical laws and constraints on the system. The main objectives of this research are the development of models which will include: the system’s requirements; the system’s structure representation in term of different entities involved and the relationship between them; the system’s behaviours in terms of activities in different cases considered and transitions from one state to another as well as the interaction between the system and all the stakeholders. Keywords: Model Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), System Modelling Language (SysML), Renewable Energy systems, Hybrid power systems, photovoltaic systems, wind power systems.

Many countries around the world integrated Renewable Energy Systems (RES) in their future energy plans in order to reduce negative impacts of fossil fuel consumption on the environment. However, RES may as well cause various environmental problems which are mostly related with the geographic locations of these facilities. The aim of this thesis is to create a Geographic Information System-based methodology for evaluating alternative locations for wind, solar and hybrid power plants by using fuzzy multi-criteria decision making. Environmental objectives and economical feasibility criteria for wind and solar systems are identified through Turkish legislations, previous studies, and interviews with General Directorate of Electrical Power Resources Survey and Development. Individual satisfaction degrees for each alternative location with respect to the identified environmental objectives and economical feasibility criteria are calculated using fuzzy set theory tools. Then these individual satisfaction degrees are aggregated into overall performance indexes which are used to determine priority maps for wind and solar energy generation facilities. Finally, maps of priority sites for wind and solar energy systems are overlaid to identify suitable locations for hybrid wind-solar energy systems. The proposed methodology is applied on a case study area composed of USak, Aydin, Denizli, Mugla, and Burdur provinces.