The design of a mooring system for a floating structure is a significant challenge; the choice of line structure and layout determine highly non-linear hydrodynamic behaviors that, in turn, influence the dynamics of the whole system. The difficulty is particularly acute for Self-Reacting Point Absorber Wave Energy Converters (SRPA WEC) as these machines rely on their movements to extract useful power from wave motions and the mooring must constrain the SRPA WEC motion without detracting from power production. In this thesis this topic has been addressed in an innovative way and new ideas on how these devices should be moored were investigated. As part of the study, an optimization routine was implemented to investigate the optimal mooring design and its characteristics. In this process, different challenges were faced. To evaluate the different mooring configurations, a high fidelity representation of the system hydrodynamics is necessary which captures the non-linearities of the system. Unfortunately, high-fidelity modeling tends to be very computationally expensive, and for this reason previous studies based mooring design largely relies on simplified representations that only reflect part of the mooring design space since some physical and hydrodynamic properties are dropped. In this work, we present how a full hydrodynamic time domain simulation can be utilized within a Metamodel-Based Optimization to better evaluate a wider range of mooring configurations spanning the breadth of the full design space. The method uses a Metamodel, defined in terms of the mooring physical parameters, to cover the majority of the optimization process a high fidelity model is used to establish the Metamodel in a pre-processing stage. The method was applied to a case study of a two-body heaving SRPA WEC. Survivability constrains where introduce into the model using a new statistical approach which reduces the execution time, and allowed the optimization routine. The analysis results lead to the conclusion that for SRPA WEC the mooring loads have a significant impact on how the body reacts with the waves, affecting both the energy that enter the system as well as the energy that is extracted as power. This implies that, in some cases, the mooring lines need to be considered in early stages of the designs as opposed to an afterthought, as is typically done. Results indicate that an optimal mooring design can result in a 26% increase in total annual power production. In addition, the mooring lines impact on mitigating parasitic pitch and roll were analyzed. It was established that in regular waves, the mooring lines can reduce the parametric excitations and improve the power extraction up to 56% for a particular sea state. By applying a computationally efficient iterative design approach to a device's mooring, parasitic motions and suboptimal device operation can be reduced, ultimately making WECs a more competitive source of energy. / Graduate / 0346 / 0537 / 0548 / 0547 / jortiz@uvic.ca

Thesis (PhD) -- Stellenbosch University, 2004. / Some digitised pages may appear illegible due to the condition of the original hard copy. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The radio noise (RN) performance of an AC high voltage transmission line is a determining factor when accessing the reliability of the design. The conducted RN level across the terminals of a PLC receiver, used in the teleprotection system of the line, is of particular concern. In this dissertation, existing empirical and semi-analytical RN prediction methods are evaluated by comparing the conducted RN levels of four South African lines to the predicted levels. Existing RN measurement protocols are consolidated and a new RN measurement protocol is proposed for the comparison. A prediction methodology, based on the EdF, EPRI and IREQ semi-analytical methods, is formulated. The semi-analytical methods are not able to accurately predict the variation of the conducted RN with frequency in the PLC band, nor are they able to predict the RN performance of short lines. A wideband excitation function, which considers the statistical characteristics of the measured RN pulse train, is therefore proposed in this dissertation. Having investigated the extraction of this excitation function from ESKOM’s Megawatt Park corona cage, it is concluded that a small corona cage is required. The design of a small cage is presented and the extraction of the excitation function is described. Attention is given to assessing the effect of changes in space charge distributions. The effect of space charge collision with an insulated cage on the extracted pulse parameters is linear, provided space charge diffusion is negligible. The onset streamer, positive streamer and negative streamer corona modes were identified as the only modes with measurable RN in the frequency regime 150 kHz to 30 MHz. Formulas are derived for the prediction of the inception gradients for these modes. The RN performance of an ACSR Hare conductor is extracted from the small cage. The RN performance of the Acacia-Koeberg line is also approximated in the PLC band. The dissertation concludes that the proposed wideband excitation function method is capable of accurately predicting the variation of RN levels with frequency. It can also be used to predict the RN performance of short line sections, as well as the relationship between RMS, QP and average RN levels from a transmission line. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die korona-werkverrigting van ‘n WS hoogspanningstransmissielyn het belangrike gevolge vir die betroubaarheid van die ontwerp van die lyn. Die geleide radioruis (RR) vlak op die kraglyndragolf kommunikasie sisteem, wat vir tele-beveiliging gebruik word, is veral van belang. In hierdie werkstuk word bestaande metodes gebruik om die korona-werkverrigting te bepaal en dan met gemete waardes van vier Suid Afrikaanse lyne te vergelyk. Bestaande RR meetmetodes word saamgevat en ‘n nuwe metingsprotokol word voorgestel om resultate te vergelyk. Na aanleiding van hierdie vergelykings word ‘n tegniek ontwikkel om die RR van ‘n lyn te voorspel. Hierdie tegniek gebruik die EdF, EPRI en IREQ metodes. Die voorgestelde tegniek kan nie die verandering van die RR met frekwensie bepaal nie. Dit kan ook nie die RR van kort lyne bepaal nie. ‘n Wyeband RR bron word dus voorgestel. Nadat ESKOM se Megawatt Park korona-kou ondersoek is, is die gevolgtrekking gemaak dat ‘n klein koronakou die nodige wyeband RR bron sal voorsien. Ruimtelading bots met die klein korona-kou. Die effek van hierdie botsings op die pulsparameters is lineer indien ladingsdiffusie nie plaasvind nie. Die aanvangs, positiewe en negatiewe kanaalontladings (“streamers”) is identifiseer as die enigste koronamodusse wat RR veroorsaak tussen 150 kHz en 30 MHz. Die spanning waarby hierdie modusse voorkom, is bepaal. Die korona-werkverrigting van ‘n “ACSR Hare” geleier is bepaal. Die korona-werkverrigting van die Acacia-Koeberg transmissie lyn is ook gekwantifiseer by die kraglyn-dragolf kommunikasie frekwensies. Die wyebandbron metode kan die verandering in RR met frekwensie goed voorspel. Die nuwe metode kan ook gebruik word om die RR van kort lyne te bepaal, asook die verband tussen RMS, QP en gemiddelde RR vlakke.

Thesis (PhD)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This dissertation considers the wideband modelling of capacitive voltage sensors for open-air transmission line applications. Two novel topologies were introduced, namely a differential parallel plate sensor with a floating faraday cage for the interface instrumentation and a coaxial sensor mounted around the earth conductor with a faraday cage connected to the earth conductor. The modelling and analysis procedures included the derivation of equivalent circuit models in order to simulate the calibration factor, the loading effect of the interface instrumentation and the effect of leakage to ground, both in the time- and frequency domain. In order to obtain a flat frequency response from very low frequencies (less than 5 Hz) to very high frequencies (several MHz) it is important that the interface instrumentation have a high input impedance and galvanic isolation be maintained. This was achieved by developing interface instrumentation with a fibre-optic link operated from battery power. The instrumentation represents a fairly unique approach in that the data is digitised before transmission across the serial fibre-optical link, where-as conventional interfaces use analogue optical technology. Despite the added complexity and high power requirements introduced by the digitising process, the improved versatility is expected to yield a superior interface solution. The instrumentation has a bandwidth of approximately 6 MHz, with an optional anti-aliasing filter at 1 MHz. Special consideration should be given to the support structure as any unbalanced leakage to ground will introduce variations in the frequency response towards the low-frequency end. Leakage of a 100 MQ was found to influence the frequency response of the circuit up to frequencies of 1 kHz. Extensive simulation studies were conducted to obtain qualitative and quantitative insight into the differential sensor topology and the associated electric fields. The improvement of a differential plate sensor over the traditional single element plate sensor was demonstrated using twodimensional simulations. Further simulations with a three-dimensional package showed that the two-dimensional simulations are insufficient, because the boundary conditions and end effects have a great influence on the calibration factor of the sensor. Extensive laboratory tests were also undertaken to evaluate the sensor topology as well as the effects of the interface instrumentation and leakage to ground. Excellent correlation were found between the measured and simulated waveforms, both in the time- and frequency domains regarding the calibration factor as well as the added poles or zeros at low frequencies. It can therefore be deduced that a valid circuit model was suggested for these sensor topologies in the frequency range from 10 Hz to 1 MHz. Keywords: Capacitive sensors, Open-air voltage sensors / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie verhandeling beskou die wyeband modellering van kapasitiewe spanningsensors vir opelug transmissie lyn toepassings. Twee oorspronklike topologieë is voorgestel, naamlik 'n differensiële parallel plaat sensor met 'n aparte faraday hok vir die koppelvlak instrumentasie en 'n koaksiale sensor wat rondom die aardgeleier monteer word met die faraday hok ook aan die aardgeleier gekoppel. Die modellerings en analise prosedures het ingesluit die afleiding van ekwivalente stroombaanmodelle vir simulasie van die kalibrasiefaktor asook die belasingseffek van die koppelvlak instrumentasie en lekweerstand na grond in beide die tyd- en frekwensie gebiede. Om 'n plat frekwensieweergawe te verkry vanaf baie lae frekwensies (laer as 5 Hz) tot by baie hoë frekwensies Cn paar MHz), is dit belangrik dat die koppelvlak instrumentasie 'n hoë intreeimpedansie het en galvaniese isolasie verseker word. Dit was bereik deur koppelvlak instrumentasie te ontwikkel met 'n optiese vesel koppeling wat met battery krag aangedryf word. Die instrumentasie verskaf 'n redelik unieke aanslag in die opsig dat die data gemonster word voordat dit oor die seriële optiese vesel skakel gestuur word, terwyl konvensionele koppelvlakke analoog optiese tegnologie gebruik. Ten spyte van die toegevoegde kompleksiteit en hoë drywingsvereistes van die versyferingsproses, het die instrumentasie se veelsydigheid toegeneem tot die mate dat dit as 'n beter koppelvlak oplossing beskou word. Die instrumentasie het 'n bandwydte van ongeveer 6 MHz, met 'n opsionele teen-vou filter by 1 MHz. Die ondersteuningstruktuur is van besondere belang aangesien enige ongebalanseerde lekweerstand na grond afwykings in die frekwensieweergawe sal veroorsaak aan die lae frekwensie kant. Lekweerstand van 100 MQ sal die frekwensieweergawe beïvloed tot by ongeveer 1 kHz. Uitgebreide simulasies is gedoen om kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe insig in die differensiële sensor topologie en die geassosieerde elektriese velde te verkry. Die verbetering van 'n differensiële parallel plaat sensor in vergelyking met die tradisionele enkel element plaat sensor is demonstreer met twee-dimensionele simulasies. Verdere simulasies met 'n drie-dimensionele pakket het gewys dat die twee- dimensionele simulasies onvoldoende is aangesien grensvoorwaardes en randeffekte 'n groot invloed het op die kalibrasiefaktor van die sensor. Uitgebreide laboratorium toetse is ook gedoen om die sensor topologie sowel as die effekte van die koppelvlak instrumentasie en lekweerstand na grond te evalueer. Uitstekende korrelasie is gevind tussen gemete en voorspelde golfvorms, in beide die tyd- en frekwensie gebied met betrekking tot die kalibrasie faktor sowel as die toegevoegde pole en zeros by lae frekwensies. Die gevolgtrekking is dus dat 'n geldige stroombaanmodel voorgestel is vir die sensor topologieë vir die frekwensie bereik van 10Hz to 1 MHz. Sleutelwoorde: Kapasitiewe sensors, Ope-lug spanningsensors

Thesis ((PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This dissertation proposes a multi-mode antenna element excited through a multiconductor feed. It is shown that each of the orthogonal transverse electromagnetic modes supported by the antenna feed results in a unique radiated far-field pattern that collectively allow for nearhemispherical field-of-view coverage. Three multi-mode antenna designs are presented: a dual-mode antenna, integrating a single linearly polarised dipole antenna with a co-located monopole, as well as two quad-mode antenna designs integrating two dual-polarised dipole elements with a co-located monopole element. The dual-mode antenna is excited through a balanced transmission line feed supporting both differential- and common-mode signals that, respectively, result in typical dipole-over-ground and monopole radiated far-field patterns. The quad-mode antennas are each fed through a quadraxial transmission line allowing for excitation through four orthogonal transverse electromagnetic port modes. To characterise the multi-mode response of the multi-mode antennas, generalised transformations are derived by which the multi-mode S-parameters and radiated far-fields can be calculated from the S-parameters and far-fields corresponding to single-ended excitations. These transformations are implemented to validate the response of a dual-mode and quad-mode antenna design through measurements. An equivalent network representation for active multi-mode antennas is presented, including generalised transformations relating the multi-mode signal and noise response of the low-noise amplifiers to the two-port S-parameters and noise parameters of the low-noise amplifiers. Through the use of classical beamforming algorithms, the performance of an active dual-mode and quadmode antenna is presented. In the case of the active dual-mode antenna, it is shown that through the added use of common-mode signals, a variation in sensitivity of less than 50% is achieved in the E-plane. Similarly, the additional excitation modes supported by the active quad-mode antenna is shown to result in a significant improvement in the polarimetric capabilities over the field-of-view coverage. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie proefskrif stel ’n multimodale antenna element voor wat deur ’n multi-geleier transmissielyn gevoer word. Dit word gewys dat elk van die ortogonale transversale elektromagnetiese opwekkingsmodusse wat deur die antenna voer ondersteun word, ’n unieke vêrveld stralingspatroon skep, wat gesamentlik lei tot ’n hemisferiese gesigsveld. Drie multimodale antenna ontwerpe word voorgestel: ’n dubbelmodale antenna, waarin ’n enkel lineêrgepolariseerde dipool antenna en monopool mede-geleë word, asook twee viermodale antenna ontwerpe waarin twee dubbelgepolariseerde dipool elemente geïntegreer word met medegeleë monopool antenna elemente. Die dubbelmodale antenna word gevoer deur ’n gebalanseerde transmissielyn wat beide differensiële- en gemene-modus seine ondersteun, waar elk onderskeidelik dipool-oor-aardvlak en monopool stralingspatrone voortbring. Die viermodale antennas word elk gevoer deur vier-as transmissielyne wat vier ortogonale transversale elektromagnetiese opwekkingsmodusse ondersteun. Om die multimodale gedrag van die drie multimodale antennas te karakteriseer, word veralgemeende transformasies afgelei waardeur die multimodale strooiingsparameters asook die vêrveld stralingspatrone vanaf enkelpoort strooiingsparameters en vêrvelde bereken word. Hierdie transformasies word toegepas om die gedrag van ’n dubbel- en viermodale antenna ontwerp te karakteriseer deur metings. Ekwivalente netwerkvoorstellings vir aktiewe multimodale antennas word voorgestel, insluitend veralgemeende transformasies om die multimodale sein asook ruis gedrag van die lae-ruis versterkers betreklik te maak tot die tweepoort strooiingsparameters en ruisparameters van die laeruis versterkers. Deur gebruik te maak van klasieke bundelvormingsalgoritmes, word die gedrag van aktiewe dubbelmodale en viermodale antennas voorgestel. Vir die aktiewe dubbelmodale antenna word daar aangedui dat die gesamentlike gebruik van differensiële- en gemene-modus seine, ’n variasie in sensitiwiteit onder 50% tot gevolg het in die E-vlak. Soortgelyk word daar aangedui dat die addisionele opwekkingsmodusse wat deur die aktiewe viermodale antenna ondersteun word, tot ’n beduidende verbetering in die polarisasievermoë oor die gesigsveld lei.

published_or_final_version / Environmental Management / Master / Master of Science in Environmental Management

published_or_final_version / Electrical Engineering / Master / Master of Science in Engineering

published_or_final_version / Urban Planning / Master / Master of Science in Urban Planning

published_or_final_version / abstract / Transport Policy and Planning / Master / Master of Arts in Transport Policy and Planning

published_or_final_version / Transport Policy and Planning / Master / Master of Arts in Transport Policy and Planning

published_or_final_version / Anatomy / Master / Master of Philosophy