Text in Afrikaans, abstract in Afrikaans and English / The development of sophisticated computer technology and the consequent computerisation of the payment system has had a far-reaching effect on fund transfer systems all over the world. The most important purpose of this thesis is to indicate the nature of an electronic fund transfer; to set out the relationships of the parties involved in an electronic funds transfer and to show by comparison with other legal systems where our law may be deficient in the regulation of the computerised payment system. At the outset, the nature and functions of money are compared to electronic fund transfers and a distinction drawn between paper-based transactions and electronic fund transfers. In this regard, electronic fund transfers as method of payment is also discussed. Automatic computer processing also gave rise to a variety of new kinds of financial services. A distinction is made between customer-initiated systems (A TM' s, EFTPOS and home-banking services) and systems used by the banks to effect electronic funds transfers between banks and to send financial messages. In this regard, the settlement function of clearing houses and the legal nature thereof are examined. A description of a local clearing house, the ACB, is included as well as a discussion of the clearing of cheques, the moment of payment of cheques and the status of the ACB. Other relevant legal aspects of the computerisation of the payment system which are examined and discussed are the following: the use of the so-called electronic signature; the regulation of risks in electronic payments and the creation of sufficient security measures; the criminal liability of an accused in the case of an unauthorised withdrawal or transfer; questions and problems surrounding evidential matters; the putting into operation of procedures to correct errors and the creation of an ombudsman to settle and resolve disputes; cheque truncation and the right of an individual to privacy in the milieu of electronic payments. Finally, the legal relationships between the parties involved in a credit transfer and the moment of payment is examined. Regulation in this regard is also considered. / Die ontwikkeling van gesofistikeerde rekenaartegnologie en die gevolglike rekenarisering van die betalingstelsel het 'n verreikende effek op die fondsoordragstelsels van banke regoor die wereld gehad. Die belangrikste doelstellings van hierdie proefskrif is gevolglik om die aard van 'n elektroniese fondsoordrag aan te dui; om die verhoudinge tussen die partye betrokke by 'n elektroniese fondsoordrag nader te omskryf en om by wyse van 'n regsvergelykende ondersoek aan te toon waar daar leemtes in ons reg ten opsigte van die regulering van die gerekenariseerde betalingstelsel bestaan. Die aard en funksies van geld is ter aanvang met elektroniese fondsoordrag vergelyk en 'n onderskeid is tussen papierbasistransaksies en elektroniese fondsoordragte getref. In hierdie verband is elektroniese fondsoordrag as betalingsmetode ook bespreek. Outomatiese rekenaarverwerking het ook tot 'n verskeidenheid van nuwe soorte finansiele dienste aanleiding gegee. Daar is onderskei tussen klient-geaktiveerde stelsels (OTM'e, EFTPOS en tuisbankdienste) en fondsoordragstelsels wat deur die banke aangewend word om elektroniese fondsoordragte tussen banke te bewerkstellig en om finansiele boodskappe te versend. In die verband is die verrekeningsfunksie van klaringshuise en die regsaard daarvan ondersoek. 'n Beskrywing van die werksaamhede van die ACB, as plaaslike klaringshuis, is hierby ingesluit asook 'n bespreking van die verrekening van tjeks, die tydstip van betaling van tjeks en die status van die ACB. Ander relevante regsaspekte van die rekenarisering van die betalingstelsel wat ondersoek en bespreek is, is die gebruik van die sogenaamde elektroniese handtekening; die risikoreeling in die elektroniese betalingsverkeer en die daarstelling van voldoende sekuriteitsprosedures; die strafregtelike aanspreeklikheid van 'n beskuldigde in die geval van 'n ongemagtigde onttrekking of oordrag; vrae en probleme rondom bewysregtelike aangeleenthede; die inwerkingstelling van foutoplossingsprosedures en die daarstelling van 'n ombudsman om geskille te voorkom en te besleg; tjekretensie en die reg van die individu op sy privaatheid in die milieu van die elektroniese betalingsverkeer. Laastens is die regsverhoudinge tussen die deelnemende partye en die tydstip van betaling in die geval van 'n kredietoordrag ondersoek, en oorweging is aan regulering in die verband geskenk. / Private law / LL. D.

Detta examensarbete har utförts åt Ålö, som är en tillverkare av frontlastare och redskap till dessa. Ett av deras redskap, vars syfte är snöröjning, är utrustat med hydrauliskt justerbara sidoklaffar som kan fällas bakåt och nyttjas som plogblad. De fyller dock inte denna uppgift tillfredsställande då snö tenderar falla tillbaka bakom dem. Det bildas även en triangulär spalt mellan klaffarna och underlaget vid plogning, detta lämnar kvar en sträng av snö, utöver det som faller ner bakom klaffarna. Målet i detta projekt var att utveckla en plogklaff som löser tidigare nämnda problem genom att ersätta den högra sidoklaffen till skopan. Utvecklingen har initierats med en studie av rapporter, existerande plogar, kontakt med brukare och fastställande av de begränsningar som råder. Detta har sedan utgjort grunden för en rad koncept, av vilka de mest lovande sammanfogades till en prototyp. Kraftberäkningar utifrån det lastfall som uppstår vid plogning har sedan använts för att bl.a. dimensionera skruvförband och skapa randvillkoren för en finita element-analys. Finita element-analysen har sedan nyttjats för att göra en uppskattning av antalet cykler med momentan maximal belastning plogklaffen klarar innan utmattningsbrott sker. Kraftberäkningarna visade att hydraulcylinderns tryckbegränsare öppnar redan innan maximal belastning uppnås. Finita element-analys och kraftberäkningar till skruvförband förutsätter likväl att maximal belastning kan erhållas momentant i syfte att ge konservativa resultat. Under denna förutsättning skiljer belastningen i skruvförbanden endast ca 7-10 % mellan finita element-analys och handberäkningar. Samtliga beräkningar är inom spannen för skruvförbandens hållfasthet. Utmattningsberäkningarna visade att antalet cykler plogklaffen klarar vid maximal belastning uppgår till ca 346 000. Detta avser områden av intresse och inkluderar således ej delar vilka redan utvärderats i originalklaffen. Svetsförband, som i regel är dimensionerande i situationer som dessa, har ej sett någon utmattningsmässig utvärdering utan kommer istället behandlas vid tester av prototypen. Prototypen uppfyller de utsatta målen och tillverkningsunderlag i form av 3D-CAD modeller och 2D-ritningar (inklusive svetsritningar) har levererats. En fysisk prototyp är även beställd och kommer tillverkas av Vännäs Verkstads AB, planerat leveransdatum är 2017-06-08. Den kommer utvärderas under vintern 2017/2018. / This thesis work has been carried out for Ålö, a manufacturer of front loaders and implements for these. One of their implements, whose purpose is snow clearing, is equipped with hydraulically adjustable flaps that can be folded backwards and used as plows. However, they do not fill this task satisfactorily as snow tends to fall down behind them. A triangular gap between the flaps and the ground is also formed during plowing. This leaves a string of snow behind, aside from the snowmass already falling down behind the flaps. The goal for this project was to develop a plow that solves the aforementioned problems by replacing the right side flap on the bucket. The development was initiated with a study of reports, existing plows, contact with users and determining existing constraints. This has since provided the basis for a series of concepts, of which the most promising ones were joined to a prototype. Force calculations based on the load scenario that occurs during plowing have been used to find appropriate fasteners and create boundary conditions for a finite element analysis. The finite element analysis has then been used to estimate the number of cycles with maximum load the plow can be subjected to before it succumbs to fatigue failure. Force calculations showed that the pressure limiter for the hydraulic cylinder opens even before maximum load is reached. Despite this, finite element analysis and force calculations for fasteners were still based on the condition that maximum load is achieved momentarily to produce convervative results. Under this condition, the load on fasteners differs only ca 7-10 % between finite element analysis and calculations made by hand. All calculations are within the span for the fasteners proof strength. Fatigue calculations showed that the number of cycles the plow can handle with maximum load amounts to approximately 346 000. This refers to areas of interest and thus does not include parts already evaluated in the original flap. Welds, which usually dictate minimum strength in situations like these, have not seen any fatigue evaluations, but will instead be addressed while testing the prototype. The prototype meets the set goals and production documentation in the form of 3D-CAD models and 2D drawings (including weldment drawings) have been delivered. A physical prototype is also ordered and will be manufactured by Vännäs Verkstads AB, scheduled delivery date is 2017-06-08. It will be evaluated during the winter of 2017/2018.

Nos sistemas de distribuição de alta e média tensão tem-se aumentado a utilização de linhas de distribuição de energia subterrâneas ou cabos subterrâneos. A ocorrência de faltas nas linhas afeta negativamente a qualidade da energia e o correto funcionamento da rede. O processo que leva a uma falta nos cabos é gradual e está caracterizado por uma série de subciclos de faltas incipientes associadas a uma tensão de arco. Estas, muitas vezes, passam despercebidas e, eventualmente, resultam em uma falta permanente. Os métodos clássicos de localização de faltas como as metodologias baseadas no cálculo da impedância aparente, as baseadas na inteligência artificial e as baseadas nas ondas viajantes são, habitualmente, aplicadas ao sistema depois de uma falta permanente acontecer e precisam de um ou mais ciclos do sinal para entregar uma resposta razoável. No entanto, as faltas nos cabos são um processo gradual, de curta duração (entre ¼ e ½ ciclo do sinal) e seria desejável localizar a falta incipiente antes de tornar-se permanente. Nesse contexto, esta pesquisa aborda o problema de localização de faltas incipientes. Assim, nesta tese propõe-se uma nova técnica de localização de faltas incipientes usando medições em um terminal, no domínio do tempo e que utiliza componentes de fase. Desta forma, são desenvolvidas duas novas formulações do modelo elétrico do sistema de distribuição com cabos subterrâneos durante uma falta incipiente. A abordagem proposta considera simultaneamente na sua formulação características da falta incipiente e dos sistemas de distribuição de energia, como a tensão de arco, o modelo Π nominal de parâmetros concentrados do cabo subterrâneo, o desequilíbrio do sistema e a condição da carga. A estimativa da distância da falta, junto com os parâmetros da falta incipiente, é obtida a partir da solução de um sistema sobredeterminado de equações lineares pela aplicação do método de mínimos quadrados ponderados não negativos. As formulações propostas permitem estimar a distância da falta em termos da reatância da linha até a falta. Além disso, é proposto um processo de compensação de corrente para estimar a corrente de falta; é aplicado um pré-processamento dos dados de entrada para suavizar o efeito do ruído que pode conter o sinal e, é aplicado um pós-processamento dos resultados para refinar e entregar a melhor estimativa obtida durante o processo de localização da falta. O desempenho da técnica proposta é avaliado mediante estudos de casos simulados em um circuito real de distribuição no Alternative Transients Program (ATP/EMTP) considerando análises de sensibilidade e comparativa. Também, o modelo da falta incipiente foi programado utilizando a ferramenta de MODELS do ATP/EMTP. Os resultados obtidos, considerando faltas incipientes simuladas que avaliam a influência da variação da magnitude de tensão de arco, do ruído aleatório inserido na tensão de arco, da distância da falta, da taxa de amostragem, do carregamento do sistema, do modelo de tensão de arco e de incertezas nas medições, indicam claramente que a abordagem proposta possui validade como técnica de localização de faltas incipientes, apresentando erros médios globais de 1,60% e 0,93%, respectivamente para cada formulação proposta. / The use of underground power distribution lines or underground cables in the high and medium voltage distribution systems has increased dramatically in recent years. The fault occurrence in the distribution lines negatively affects the power quality and the correct network operation. The process which leads to a fault in underground cables is gradual and is characterized by a series of sub-cycles of incipient faults associated with an arc voltage. These often are unnoticed and, eventually, results in a permanent fault. Classical fault localization methods such as the based-impedance, the based on artificial intelligent and the based on traveling waves are, usually, applied to the system after a permanent fault occurrence and need one or more signal cycles for providing a reasonable response. However, the faults in cables are a gradual process, with short duration (between ¼ to ½ of signal cycle) and would be desirable to locate the fault before this becomes a permanent fault. In this context, this research approaches the incipient faults location problem. Thus, in this thesis is proposed a new incipient fault location technique using single-end terminal measurement, in time-domain and employing phase components. In this way, two new formulations of the electrical model of the distribution system with underground cables during an incipient fault are developed. The proposed approach considers simultaneously in its formulation, incipient fault type and power distribution systems characteristics as arc voltage, unbalanced operation, load conditions and complete line model. The fault distance estimation, together with the incipient fault parameters, it is obtained from the solution of an overdetermined linear system of equations by the application of the non-negative weighted least squares estimator method. The proposed formulations allow estimating the fault distance in terms of the line reactance up to the fault. In addition, a load current compensation strategy is proposed to reduce its effect in the fault current estimation; an input data pre-processing is applied to smooth out the noise effect and a post-processing of the results is performed for estimation refinement and to provide the best estimate obtained during the fault location process. The proposed technique performance is evaluated through simulated cases studies in a real-life distribution network with underground cable data in the Alternative Transients Program (ATP/EMTP) considering sensitivity and comparative analyzes. Also, the fault model was programmed using the MODELS tool of ATP/EMTP. The obtained results, considering simulated incipient faults, which evaluate the influence of variations in the arc voltage magnitude, random noise percentage inserted in the arc voltage, fault distance, sampling rate, load dynamics, the arc voltage model and uncertainties in measurements, indicate clearly that the proposed approach is valid as incipient faults location technique, showing overall average errors of 1,60% and 0,93%, respectively for each proposed formulation.

Ces dernières années, un nouveau composant de l'environnement des tumeurs (ET) a été mis en évidence: les projections des neurones du système nerveux. En effet, les tumeurs sont infiltrées par des axones, ce qui pourrait réguler la progression du cancer.Le cancer du pancréas fait partie des cancers les plus mortels. Les traitements thérapeutiques actuels qui ciblent ce cancer ne sont pas efficaces. Il est donc important de mieux comprendre les différentes composantes de l'ET de ce cancer afin d’identifier de nouvelles cibles thérapeutiques. Nous proposons de décrire l’innervation des tumeurs pancréatiques ce qui est le point de départ pour mieux comprendre l’importance de cette composante de l'ET. Les objectifs ont été d’analyser en 3D les réseaux d'axones qui innervent le pancréas sain et cancéreux, ainsi que leurs relations avec d'autres types cellulaires de l'ET (vaisseaux sanguins (VS)).Pour cela, nous avons utilisé une méthode d'imagerie 3D de pancréas entiers, rendus transparents, qui proviennent de modèles génétiques de souris qui développent des cancers du pancréas similaires à ceux de l'homme. Nous avons observé que les réseaux d'axones sont plus denses et plus complexes dans les régions cancéreuses du pancréas par rapport aux régions saines. Alors que dans les tissus sains les axones sont associés aux VS, ils ne le sont plus dans les régions cancéreuses. Nous avons de plus identifié des groupes morphologiques de réseaux d'axones qui permettent de discriminer une région saine d'une région cancéreuse.L’analyse de la structure en 3D de ces réseaux d'axones pourrait donc représenter une donnée prédictive et pronostique de l'état d'avancé clinique de la maladie. / Cancers are diseases in which cancer cells interact with a complex tumor environment (TE). In recent years, a new component of TE has been highlighted: neuronal projections of the nervous system. Indeed, the axons of neurons innervate the tumors, which could regulate cancer progression.Pancreatic cancer is among the most deadly cancers. Indeed, the current therapeutic treatments that target this cancer are not effective. It is therefore important to better understand the different components of the TE of this cancer in order to identify new potential therapeutic targets.In this thesis, we propose to describe the innervation of pancreatic tumors which is the starting point to better understand the importance of this component of the TE. The objectives were to visualize and analyze in 3D the networks of axons that innervate the healthy and cancerous pancreas, as well as their relations with other cell types of the TE (blood vessels (BV)).For this, we used a method of 3D imaging of whole pancreas, made transparent, which come from genetic models of mice that develop pancreatic cancer similar to that of humans.We observed that axon networks are denser and more complex in cancerous regions of the pancreas compared to healthy regions. Moreover, while in healthy tissue, axons are associated with BV, they are no longer in cancerous areas.We also identified morphological groups of axon networks that discriminate a healthy region from a cancerous region.The analysis of the 3D structure of these axon networks could thus represent a predictive and prognostic value for the progression of the disease.

Nowadays, power systems are dealing with some new challenges raisedby the major changes that have been taken place since 80’s, e.g., deregu-lation in electricity markets, significant increase of electricity demands andmore recently large-scale integration of renewable energy resources such aswind power. Therefore, system operators must make some adjustments toaccommodate these changes into the future of power systems.One of the main challenges is maintaining the system stability since theextra stress caused by the above changes reduces the stability margin, andmay lead to rise of many undesirable phenomena. The other important chal-lenge is to cope with uncertainty and variability of renewable energy sourceswhich make power systems to become more stochastic in nature, and lesscontrollable.Flexible AC Transmission Systems (FACTS) have emerged as a solutionto help power systems with these new challenges. This thesis aims to ap-propriately utilize such devices in order to increase the transmission capacityand flexibility, improve the dynamic behavior of power systems and integratemore renewable energy into the system. To this end, the most appropriatelocations and settings of these controllable devices need to be determined.This thesis mainly looks at (i) rotor angle stability, i.e., small signal andtransient stability (ii) system operation under wind uncertainty. In the firstpart of this thesis, trajectory sensitivity analysis is used to determine themost suitable placement of FACTS devices for improving rotor angle sta-bility, while in the second part, optimal settings of such devices are foundto maximize the level of wind power integration. As a general conclusion,it was demonstrated that FACTS devices, installed in proper locations andtuned appropriately, are effective means to enhance the system stability andto handle wind uncertainty.The last objective of this thesis work is to propose an efficient solutionapproach based on Benders’ decomposition to solve a network-constrained acunit commitment problem in a wind-integrated power system. The numericalresults show validity, accuracy and efficiency of the proposed approach. / <p>The Doctoral Degrees issued upon completion of the programme are issued by Comillas Pontifical University, Delft University of Technology and KTH Royal Institute of Technology. The invested degrees are official in Spain, the Netherlands and Sweden, respectively.QC 20141028</p>

In a deregulated electricity market, offering the appropriate amount of electricity at the right time with the right bidding price is of paramount importance. The forecasting of electricity market clearing price (MCP) is a prediction of future electricity price based on given forecast of electricity demand, temperature, sunshine, fuel cost, precipitation and other related factors. Currently, there are many techniques available for short-term electricity MCP forecasting, but very little has been done in the area of mid-term electricity MCP forecasting. The mid-term electricity MCP forecasting focuses electricity MCP on a time frame from one month to six months. Developing mid-term electricity MCP forecasting is essential for mid-term planning and decision making, such as generation plant expansion and maintenance schedule, reallocation of resources, bilateral contracts and hedging strategies. Six mid-term electricity MCP forecasting models are proposed and compared in this thesis: 1) a single support vector machine (SVM) forecasting model, 2) a single least squares support vector machine (LSSVM) forecasting model, 3) a hybrid SVM and auto-regression moving average with external input (ARMAX) forecasting model, 4) a hybrid LSSVM and ARMAX forecasting model, 5) a multiple SVM forecasting model and 6) a multiple LSSVM forecasting model. PJM interconnection data are used to test the proposed models. Cross-validation technique was used to optimize the control parameters and the selection of training data of the six proposed mid-term electricity MCP forecasting models. Three evaluation techniques, mean absolute error (MAE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) and mean square root error (MSRE), are used to analysis the system forecasting accuracy. According to the experimental results, the multiple SVM forecasting model worked the best among all six proposed forecasting models. The proposed multiple SVM based mid-term electricity MCP forecasting model contains a data classification module and a price forecasting module. The data classification module will first pre-process the input data into corresponding price zones and then the forecasting module will forecast the electricity price in four parallel designed SVMs. This proposed model can best improve the forecasting accuracy on both peak prices and overall system compared with other 5 forecasting models proposed in this thesis.

The present study focusses on the theatre audience, and on its’ role in the maintenance of the theatrical situation. Using video-recorded performances of relatively naturalistic, modern dramas, the study examines the behaviour of the audience in relation to the unfolding of stage events. Such behaviour is described through close inspection of the sounds the audience produces, consisting primarily of coughing, throat-clearing, and laughter. The study contributes to the growing body of research surrounding ethnomethodological conversation analysis (CA). CA methods are used to analyse not only an audience’s overt reactions to stage events, but also the actions occurring outside these relatively short-lived phenomena in the context of a theatre performance. It is demonstrated that members of the audience refrain from making « vocal noise » during the verbal interaction of actors, and some of the resources used to achieve this end are described. These include the interpretation of the emerging dialogue, of the relative positioning of actors and of the actors’ use of gesture. Members of the audience are observed making vocal noise around possible completions in the sequence of ongoing stage actions, a placing which seems to make it maximally unobtrusive. Furthermore, the audience’s laughter is described. It is argued that members of the audience negociate collective moments of laughter with each other and with the actors. In doing so, the audience displays a sensitive awareness of the other members of the audience and the performers on stage. It is finally suggested that vocal noise on one hand and laughter on the other are differently placed in relation to an emerging action. This relative placing seems to indicate their producers’ different orientations to these actions, according to which vocal noise is to be hidden and laughter to be taken as an overt reaction.

[Truncated abstract] Land clearing is known to increase runoff, and in many dryland landscapes is also associated with rising saline watertables, causing increased stream salinity and degrading riparian vegetation. The limited understanding of how river morphology responds to these changes and the potential for vegetation-based strategies to offer river management options under these conditions, has prompted this research. In southwestern Australia the severity of salinity and recent nature of land clearing provides an appropriate setting to investigate river response. A data-based, multidisciplinary methodology was applied to determine how land clearing and landscape salinisation has altered landscape sensitivity through changes in erosive potential, system connectivity and material threshold mechanisms, and how these affect patterns of river response. The study investigated the responses of morphologically similar reaches across fifty two study sites in the Kent River and Dalyup River catchments, in the south coastal rivers region of Western Australia. Land clearing was found to have significantly altered the hydrologic regime and erosive potential in both frequency and magnitude, with flow becoming more perennial, and increased annual discharge, flood peaks and bankfull flow frequency. While sediment transport rates have also increased since land clearing, they remain low on a global scale. Human response to a reduced rainfall regime and related water security pressures has caused large hillslope areas to be decoupled from the main channels by bank and farm dam construction, and have reduced downstream transmission of change. ... By contrast, steeper-sloped mid-catchment areas with minimal vegetation degradation caused by salinity are associated with higher erosive potential. A more erosive response is observed in these reaches where floodplains have been cleared for agricultural purposes. A conceptual model of vegetation growth across the salinity gradient observed in the study catchments was developed, and applied to selected river styles to assess the potential that vegetation-based strategies offer for river management. This work identifies the unsuitability of river restoration strategies, but the potential for river restoration or remediation in a saline landscape. Hydraulic modelling demonstrated that river rehabilitation strategies such as improving the vegetation condition of the riparian buffer using native or commercial species on areas elevated above saline flow can stabilise reaches. For river styles in wide and flat valleys, there is limited potential for vegetation-based river rehabilitation under the current salinity gradient. Field observation and modelling suggest that river remediation may offer geomorphic management options in salt-affected reaches through channelisation to lower watertables, and further research on this is warranted. This work found a consistent response for river styles across the two study catchments. Based on the understanding of river response and the potential for vegetation-based river management for each style, this research offers a regional-scale tool for river management in a saline landscape.

Text in Afrikaans, abstract in Afrikaans and English / The development of sophisticated computer technology and the consequent computerisation of the payment system has had a far-reaching effect on fund transfer systems all over the world. The most important purpose of this thesis is to indicate the nature of an electronic fund transfer; to set out the relationships of the parties involved in an electronic funds transfer and to show by comparison with other legal systems where our law may be deficient in the regulation of the computerised payment system. At the outset, the nature and functions of money are compared to electronic fund transfers and a distinction drawn between paper-based transactions and electronic fund transfers. In this regard, electronic fund transfers as method of payment is also discussed. Automatic computer processing also gave rise to a variety of new kinds of financial services. A distinction is made between customer-initiated systems (A TM' s, EFTPOS and home-banking services) and systems used by the banks to effect electronic funds transfers between banks and to send financial messages. In this regard, the settlement function of clearing houses and the legal nature thereof are examined. A description of a local clearing house, the ACB, is included as well as a discussion of the clearing of cheques, the moment of payment of cheques and the status of the ACB. Other relevant legal aspects of the computerisation of the payment system which are examined and discussed are the following: the use of the so-called electronic signature; the regulation of risks in electronic payments and the creation of sufficient security measures; the criminal liability of an accused in the case of an unauthorised withdrawal or transfer; questions and problems surrounding evidential matters; the putting into operation of procedures to correct errors and the creation of an ombudsman to settle and resolve disputes; cheque truncation and the right of an individual to privacy in the milieu of electronic payments. Finally, the legal relationships between the parties involved in a credit transfer and the moment of payment is examined. Regulation in this regard is also considered. / Die ontwikkeling van gesofistikeerde rekenaartegnologie en die gevolglike rekenarisering van die betalingstelsel het 'n verreikende effek op die fondsoordragstelsels van banke regoor die wereld gehad. Die belangrikste doelstellings van hierdie proefskrif is gevolglik om die aard van 'n elektroniese fondsoordrag aan te dui; om die verhoudinge tussen die partye betrokke by 'n elektroniese fondsoordrag nader te omskryf en om by wyse van 'n regsvergelykende ondersoek aan te toon waar daar leemtes in ons reg ten opsigte van die regulering van die gerekenariseerde betalingstelsel bestaan. Die aard en funksies van geld is ter aanvang met elektroniese fondsoordrag vergelyk en 'n onderskeid is tussen papierbasistransaksies en elektroniese fondsoordragte getref. In hierdie verband is elektroniese fondsoordrag as betalingsmetode ook bespreek. Outomatiese rekenaarverwerking het ook tot 'n verskeidenheid van nuwe soorte finansiele dienste aanleiding gegee. Daar is onderskei tussen klient-geaktiveerde stelsels (OTM'e, EFTPOS en tuisbankdienste) en fondsoordragstelsels wat deur die banke aangewend word om elektroniese fondsoordragte tussen banke te bewerkstellig en om finansiele boodskappe te versend. In die verband is die verrekeningsfunksie van klaringshuise en die regsaard daarvan ondersoek. 'n Beskrywing van die werksaamhede van die ACB, as plaaslike klaringshuis, is hierby ingesluit asook 'n bespreking van die verrekening van tjeks, die tydstip van betaling van tjeks en die status van die ACB. Ander relevante regsaspekte van die rekenarisering van die betalingstelsel wat ondersoek en bespreek is, is die gebruik van die sogenaamde elektroniese handtekening; die risikoreeling in die elektroniese betalingsverkeer en die daarstelling van voldoende sekuriteitsprosedures; die strafregtelike aanspreeklikheid van 'n beskuldigde in die geval van 'n ongemagtigde onttrekking of oordrag; vrae en probleme rondom bewysregtelike aangeleenthede; die inwerkingstelling van foutoplossingsprosedures en die daarstelling van 'n ombudsman om geskille te voorkom en te besleg; tjekretensie en die reg van die individu op sy privaatheid in die milieu van die elektroniese betalingsverkeer. Laastens is die regsverhoudinge tussen die deelnemende partye en die tydstip van betaling in die geval van 'n kredietoordrag ondersoek, en oorweging is aan regulering in die verband geskenk. / Private law / LL. D.

Nos sistemas de distribuição de alta e média tensão tem-se aumentado a utilização de linhas de distribuição de energia subterrâneas ou cabos subterrâneos. A ocorrência de faltas nas linhas afeta negativamente a qualidade da energia e o correto funcionamento da rede. O processo que leva a uma falta nos cabos é gradual e está caracterizado por uma série de subciclos de faltas incipientes associadas a uma tensão de arco. Estas, muitas vezes, passam despercebidas e, eventualmente, resultam em uma falta permanente. Os métodos clássicos de localização de faltas como as metodologias baseadas no cálculo da impedância aparente, as baseadas na inteligência artificial e as baseadas nas ondas viajantes são, habitualmente, aplicadas ao sistema depois de uma falta permanente acontecer e precisam de um ou mais ciclos do sinal para entregar uma resposta razoável. No entanto, as faltas nos cabos são um processo gradual, de curta duração (entre ¼ e ½ ciclo do sinal) e seria desejável localizar a falta incipiente antes de tornar-se permanente. Nesse contexto, esta pesquisa aborda o problema de localização de faltas incipientes. Assim, nesta tese propõe-se uma nova técnica de localização de faltas incipientes usando medições em um terminal, no domínio do tempo e que utiliza componentes de fase. Desta forma, são desenvolvidas duas novas formulações do modelo elétrico do sistema de distribuição com cabos subterrâneos durante uma falta incipiente. A abordagem proposta considera simultaneamente na sua formulação características da falta incipiente e dos sistemas de distribuição de energia, como a tensão de arco, o modelo Π nominal de parâmetros concentrados do cabo subterrâneo, o desequilíbrio do sistema e a condição da carga. A estimativa da distância da falta, junto com os parâmetros da falta incipiente, é obtida a partir da solução de um sistema sobredeterminado de equações lineares pela aplicação do método de mínimos quadrados ponderados não negativos. As formulações propostas permitem estimar a distância da falta em termos da reatância da linha até a falta. Além disso, é proposto um processo de compensação de corrente para estimar a corrente de falta; é aplicado um pré-processamento dos dados de entrada para suavizar o efeito do ruído que pode conter o sinal e, é aplicado um pós-processamento dos resultados para refinar e entregar a melhor estimativa obtida durante o processo de localização da falta. O desempenho da técnica proposta é avaliado mediante estudos de casos simulados em um circuito real de distribuição no Alternative Transients Program (ATP/EMTP) considerando análises de sensibilidade e comparativa. Também, o modelo da falta incipiente foi programado utilizando a ferramenta de MODELS do ATP/EMTP. Os resultados obtidos, considerando faltas incipientes simuladas que avaliam a influência da variação da magnitude de tensão de arco, do ruído aleatório inserido na tensão de arco, da distância da falta, da taxa de amostragem, do carregamento do sistema, do modelo de tensão de arco e de incertezas nas medições, indicam claramente que a abordagem proposta possui validade como técnica de localização de faltas incipientes, apresentando erros médios globais de 1,60% e 0,93%, respectivamente para cada formulação proposta. / The use of underground power distribution lines or underground cables in the high and medium voltage distribution systems has increased dramatically in recent years. The fault occurrence in the distribution lines negatively affects the power quality and the correct network operation. The process which leads to a fault in underground cables is gradual and is characterized by a series of sub-cycles of incipient faults associated with an arc voltage. These often are unnoticed and, eventually, results in a permanent fault. Classical fault localization methods such as the based-impedance, the based on artificial intelligent and the based on traveling waves are, usually, applied to the system after a permanent fault occurrence and need one or more signal cycles for providing a reasonable response. However, the faults in cables are a gradual process, with short duration (between ¼ to ½ of signal cycle) and would be desirable to locate the fault before this becomes a permanent fault. In this context, this research approaches the incipient faults location problem. Thus, in this thesis is proposed a new incipient fault location technique using single-end terminal measurement, in time-domain and employing phase components. In this way, two new formulations of the electrical model of the distribution system with underground cables during an incipient fault are developed. The proposed approach considers simultaneously in its formulation, incipient fault type and power distribution systems characteristics as arc voltage, unbalanced operation, load conditions and complete line model. The fault distance estimation, together with the incipient fault parameters, it is obtained from the solution of an overdetermined linear system of equations by the application of the non-negative weighted least squares estimator method. The proposed formulations allow estimating the fault distance in terms of the line reactance up to the fault. In addition, a load current compensation strategy is proposed to reduce its effect in the fault current estimation; an input data pre-processing is applied to smooth out the noise effect and a post-processing of the results is performed for estimation refinement and to provide the best estimate obtained during the fault location process. The proposed technique performance is evaluated through simulated cases studies in a real-life distribution network with underground cable data in the Alternative Transients Program (ATP/EMTP) considering sensitivity and comparative analyzes. Also, the fault model was programmed using the MODELS tool of ATP/EMTP. The obtained results, considering simulated incipient faults, which evaluate the influence of variations in the arc voltage magnitude, random noise percentage inserted in the arc voltage, fault distance, sampling rate, load dynamics, the arc voltage model and uncertainties in measurements, indicate clearly that the proposed approach is valid as incipient faults location technique, showing overall average errors of 1,60% and 0,93%, respectively for each proposed formulation.