Research on unit load stability aids manufacturing facilities in selecting the most efficient load stabilizer when shipping their products to market. This study's objective was to compare the performance a variety of different commonly used load stabilizers to stretch hooding. Stretch hooding is a method of load stabilization in which a tubular film is heat sealed at the top, stretched by four mechanical arms to a desired width, pulled down over the unit load. The film is slowly released as the arms descend, and is released under the pallet. 400ga stretch hooding, 80ga and 63ga stretch wrap and strapping were tested. Twenty unit loads for both vibration and impact testing were used, with 5 replications per load stabilizer. Container displacement and pallet-container displacement were measured, and the number of tares in the load stabilizer film, on the corners of the test units, after testing, was noted. Container displacement was significantly greater during impact testing than in vibration testing. Strapping was the most effective stabilizer during vibration testing because of its ability to restrict vertical displacement. The stretch hooding was the most effective stabilizer during impact testing because of its ability to restrict horizontal displacement. / Master of Science

Water Treatment Plants (WTPs) supply potable water which is transferred by pumps to various end users. WTPs and other sub-systems are energy intensive with pump installed capacities varying between 75 kW – 6 000 kW. It has therefore become important to optimise the utilisation of WTPs. Cost savings can be achieved and the load on the national grid can be reduced. The aim of this study is to develop and implement load management strategies on a municipal WTP. In this investigation the high lift pumps are deemed to be the largest consumers of electricity. Strategies to safely implement load management on a WTP were researched. By optimising the operations of the pumps, significant cost savings can be achieved. Comparisons between different electricity tariff structures were done. It was found plausible to save R 990 000 annually, on a pumping station with four 1 000 kW pumps installed, when switching to a time-of-use dependent tariff structure. Strategies to optimise plant utilisation while attempting a load management study include the optimisation of filter washing methods and raw water operations. An increase of 34% in efficiency for a filter backwash cycle was achieved. To accommodate the effects of the load management on the WTP, the operation of valves that allow water to distribute within the plant was also optimised. The implemented control strategies aimed to accomplish the full utilisation of the WTP and sub-systems to achieve savings. An average evening peak period load shift impact of 2.21 MW was achieved. Due to filter modifications the plant is able to supply 5% more water daily. A conclusion is drawn regarding the success of the strategies implemented. Recommendations are made for further research. / MIng (Mechanical Engineering), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Water Treatment Plants (WTPs) supply potable water which is transferred by pumps to various end users. WTPs and other sub-systems are energy intensive with pump installed capacities varying between 75 kW – 6 000 kW. It has therefore become important to optimise the utilisation of WTPs. Cost savings can be achieved and the load on the national grid can be reduced. The aim of this study is to develop and implement load management strategies on a municipal WTP. In this investigation the high lift pumps are deemed to be the largest consumers of electricity. Strategies to safely implement load management on a WTP were researched. By optimising the operations of the pumps, significant cost savings can be achieved. Comparisons between different electricity tariff structures were done. It was found plausible to save R 990 000 annually, on a pumping station with four 1 000 kW pumps installed, when switching to a time-of-use dependent tariff structure. Strategies to optimise plant utilisation while attempting a load management study include the optimisation of filter washing methods and raw water operations. An increase of 34% in efficiency for a filter backwash cycle was achieved. To accommodate the effects of the load management on the WTP, the operation of valves that allow water to distribute within the plant was also optimised. The implemented control strategies aimed to accomplish the full utilisation of the WTP and sub-systems to achieve savings. An average evening peak period load shift impact of 2.21 MW was achieved. Due to filter modifications the plant is able to supply 5% more water daily. A conclusion is drawn regarding the success of the strategies implemented. Recommendations are made for further research. / MIng (Mechanical Engineering), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Thesis (M.Ing. (Electrical Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

The Swedish electrical power system faces many challenges. Stricter environmental and economic demands require a more efficient use of both the transmission and distribution grids as well as the production capabilities. Since the Swedish national demand of electricity is fluctuating, the system has always been dimensioned to meet the periods of high demand, resulting in a low utilization of the system. To meet these challenges, the concept of a “Smart Grid” has been phrased. One of the most important goals of a Smart Grid is to enable end-consumers to participate more actively in the energy market. One way to do this is through “load-shifting” where consumption (or loads) are moved from hours of high demand (peak hours) to hours of low demand (off-peak hours). Load-shifting is a part of a set of intentional consumption modifications denoted “Demand Response” (DR) and is deemed to be one of the most important tools of the Smart Grid. In Sweden, a Smart Grid project called the Stockholm Royal Seaport (SRS) project is currently taking place. The project have phrased a hypotheses regarding load-shifting called the “Active customer” scenario, in which a customer load-shifts 5-15 % of his electricity consumption. To facilitate this scenario, the SRS project uses an end-consumer price model for electricity, called the SRS price model, as well as technological and market solutions not yet available on a national scale.   This study investigates what impact the results from the SRS pilot project might have if implemented for private apartment end-consumers on a Swedish national scale. The study is divided into three parts. The first part investigates the challenges of a national scale implementation of private apartment end-consumer DR and the SRS price model. The second part investigates what the impact would be if the entire Swedish private apartment end-consumer sector where to act in accordance with the Active customer scenario. The third part consists of a sensitivity analysis. Four challenges for a national private apartment end-consumer load-shift implementation have been elicited. They are; the lack of easily moveable loads in a foreseeable future, the heterogeneous cost of distribution, the suggested price models low peak to off-peak price ratio and the comparatively small cost of electricity of the private apartment end-consumers. The SRS price model is deemed to give a clear economic incentive for load-shift of private apartment end-consumer without electric heating. However, the incentive might be considered too weak with yearly savings of 48-165 SEK for a 15 % load-shift, depending on apartment consumption. This corresponds to yearly savings of 124 to 429 million SEK for the entire customer segment. These challenges are deemed to be of a non-technical character, but rather of a marketing and communication nature. The impact of a fully implemented national private apartment end-consumer load-shift in accordance with the Active customer scenario and the SRS price model is deemed to be beneficial from an overall power system point of view. However, the impact on the private apartment end-consumer national demand is small in comparison with other plausible system developments, such as energy demand reductions due to more efficient lighting solutions. The sensitivity analysis of private apartment end-consumer cost savings when acting in accordance with the Active customer scenario indicates that the percentage savings may increase in the future when considering more volatile prices for electric energy or the implementation of a time differentiated energy tax.

South Africa is currently facing a major electricity crisis due to the continuous growth in electricity demand. Eskom, the largest electricity supplier in South Africa, have enabled numerous methods to support energy reduction in both the residential and industrial sectors. Programs developed by Eskom to help the different major electricity consuming industries with the development of energy efficient and load shift strategies, have already been put into practice. These programs solely focus on the potential savings in megawatts each production sector might consist of. The key features of the Eskom electricity reduction initiative are driven by the energy efficiency concept and the peak demand load shift capability. Both the load shift and energy efficient initiatives are mostly active in the mining industry, because of the high electricity consumption levels of a standard mining operation. One of the most inefficient systems currently active within a mining operation is the ventilation control system. This dissertation describes the energy efficient and load shift research on the current underground ventilation system by means of certain design methodologies that might improve the inefficient operational features on both the standard underground auxiliary fans and the main surface fans. The operational features of a standard 2-pole 45 kW issued auxiliary fan were tested, by using a fan-testing column to compare the performance criteria to that of an improved auxiliary fan design. An energy saving potential on a single 45 kW unit of 11 kW was evident during the testing analysis. This amounted to an estimated annual energy saving potential of R 370,000.00 with a total saving of 561 kW on all the installed 45 kW units at Kopanang goldmine, by means of an investment in the replacement of the current installed units with that of the improved units. A secondary study was to gather information on the main surface fan operational features at Kopanang and Mponeng goldmines. The gathered information showed an estimated possibility for load shift and efficiency initiatives, which will result in fan operating life expansion and electricity savings capabilities. Annual electricity savings of up to R I ,500,000.00 were calculated on efficiency and load shift strategies and gave an indication on how costly inefficient operations are. The calculated I 0% increase in main fan efficiency resulted in an annual saving of nearly R 1,100,000.00 with a reduction of 1,05 MW at Mponeng goldmine and an annual saving of nearly R 721,000.00 with a reduction of 675 kW at Kopanang goldmine. The load shift potential at Mponeng and Kopanang goldmines were nearly 3,5 MW and 2,25 MW respectively. Capital investments from either Eskom or alternative investors will definitely play a crucial part in the realization of energy efficiency and load shift measures. It may include, improved fan installations, variable speed drives for the main fans and real time management systems. If the mine should decide to invest in these efficient strategies, the proposed Eskom DSM program might result in a net energy savings potential for any mining operation. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Electrical Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

South Africa is currently facing a major electricity crisis due to the continuous growth in electricity demand. Eskom, the largest electricity supplier in South Africa, have enabled numerous methods to support energy reduction in both the residential and industrial sectors. Programs developed by Eskom to help the different major electricity consuming industries with the development of energy efficient and load shift strategies, have already been put into practice. These programs solely focus on the potential savings in megawatts each production sector might consist of. The key features of the Eskom electricity reduction initiative are driven by the energy efficiency concept and the peak demand load shift capability. Both the load shift and energy efficient initiatives are mostly active in the mining industry, because of the high electricity consumption levels of a standard mining operation. One of the most inefficient systems currently active within a mining operation is the ventilation control system. This dissertation describes the energy efficient and load shift research on the current underground ventilation system by means of certain design methodologies that might improve the inefficient operational features on both the standard underground auxiliary fans and the main surface fans. The operational features of a standard 2-pole 45 kW issued auxiliary fan were tested, by using a fan-testing column to compare the performance criteria to that of an improved auxiliary fan design. An energy saving potential on a single 45 kW unit of 11 kW was evident during the testing analysis. This amounted to an estimated annual energy saving potential of R 370,000.00 with a total saving of 561 kW on all the installed 45 kW units at Kopanang goldmine, by means of an investment in the replacement of the current installed units with that of the improved units. A secondary study was to gather information on the main surface fan operational features at Kopanang and Mponeng goldmines. The gathered information showed an estimated possibility for load shift and efficiency initiatives, which will result in fan operating life expansion and electricity savings capabilities. Annual electricity savings of up to R I ,500,000.00 were calculated on efficiency and load shift strategies and gave an indication on how costly inefficient operations are. The calculated I 0% increase in main fan efficiency resulted in an annual saving of nearly R 1,100,000.00 with a reduction of 1,05 MW at Mponeng goldmine and an annual saving of nearly R 721,000.00 with a reduction of 675 kW at Kopanang goldmine. The load shift potential at Mponeng and Kopanang goldmines were nearly 3,5 MW and 2,25 MW respectively. Capital investments from either Eskom or alternative investors will definitely play a crucial part in the realization of energy efficiency and load shift measures. It may include, improved fan installations, variable speed drives for the main fans and real time management systems. If the mine should decide to invest in these efficient strategies, the proposed Eskom DSM program might result in a net energy savings potential for any mining operation. / Thesis (M.Ing. (Electrical Engineering))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

The Swedish electrical power system faces many challenges. Stricter environmental and economic demands require a more efficient use of both the transmission and distribution grids as well as the production capabilities. Since the Swedish national demand of electricity is fluctuating, the system has always been dimensioned to meet the periods of high demand, resulting in a low utilization of the system. To meet these challenges, the concept of a “Smart Grid” has been phrased. One of the most important goals of a Smart Grid is to enable end-consumers to participate more actively in the energy market. One way to do this is through “load-shifting” where consumption (or loads) are moved from hours of high demand (peak hours) to hours of low demand (off-peak hours). Load-shifting is a part of a set of intentional consumption modifications denoted “Demand Response” (DR) and is deemed to be one of the most important tools of the Smart Grid. In Sweden, a Smart Grid project called the Stockholm Royal Seaport (SRS) project is currently taking place. The project have phrased a hypotheses regarding load-shifting called the “Active customer” scenario, in which a customer load-shifts 5-15 % of his electricity consumption. To facilitate this scenario, the SRS project uses an end-consumer price model for electricity, called the SRS price model, as well as technological and market solutions not yet available on a national scale.   This study investigates what impact the results from the SRS pilot project might have if implemented for private apartment end-consumers on a Swedish national scale. The study is divided into three parts. The first part investigates the challenges of a national scale implementation of private apartment end-consumer DR and the SRS price model. The second part investigates what the impact would be if the entire Swedish private apartment end-consumer sector where to act in accordance with the Active customer scenario. The third part consists of a sensitivity analysis. Four challenges for a national private apartment end-consumer load-shift implementation have been elicited. They are; the lack of easily moveable loads in a foreseeable future, the heterogeneous cost of distribution, the suggested price models low peak to off-peak price ratio and the comparatively small cost of electricity of the private apartment end-consumers. The SRS price model is deemed to give a clear economic incentive for load-shift of private apartment end-consumer without electric heating. However, the incentive might be considered too weak with yearly savings of 48-165 SEK for a 15 % load-shift, depending on apartment consumption. This corresponds to yearly savings of 124 to 429 million SEK for the entire customer segment. These challenges are deemed to be of a non-technical character, but rather of a marketing and communication nature. The impact of a fully implemented national private apartment end-consumer load-shift in accordance with the Active customer scenario and the SRS price model is deemed to be beneficial from an overall power system point of view. However, the impact on the private apartment end-consumer national demand is small in comparison with other plausible system developments, such as energy demand reductions due to more efficient lighting solutions. The sensitivity analysis of private apartment end-consumer cost savings when acting in accordance with the Active customer scenario indicates that the percentage savings may increase in the future when considering more volatile prices for electric energy or the implementation of a time differentiated energy tax.

Sweden’s energy system is facing major changes in the near future in order to reducecarbon emissions and to switch to sustainable energy sources. PV systems havebecome a sensible alternative for homeowners that want to be a part of this changeand at the same time reduce the cost of their electricity bill. To further improve theutilization of their PV system and to handle the intermittent nature of solar power,battery storages have become an interesting system complement. This thesisinvestigates how batteries can provide smart services; load shift and peak price energyutilization to a household. This is done by developing an optimized battery algorithmmodel that can provide these smart services which is compared to a simple batteryalgorithm. The results show that the developed battery optimization model works asintended. It performs both load shift and peak price energy utilization. The economicanalysis shows that the most profitable PV system and battery configuration is a 20kW PV system with a 5 kWh battery. The system has an internal rate of return, IRR,of 2.3% which does not reach Vattenfall’s weighted average cost of capital, WACC, at7%. The results also show that the battery cost is an important factors for a system'sprofitability. A larger battery system is more expensive and the increased yield doesnot cover the increased cost. Further research is needed to implement the optimizedbattery as a functional application since the model has access to a perfect forecast andthus a method for forecasting PV production and load profile of the household arecrucial to get similar results.

The Master Thesis is part of the Smart Grid Gotlandproject. This project aims at implementing smart grid solutionson the island of Gotland in order to be able to efficientlyintegrate large quantities of renewable energy production.In situations of high wind power production and lowconsumption, energy export problems may occur betweenGotland and the mainland. A novel approach to manageanticipated congestions, compared to traditional gridreinforcements, consists of using flexibility from demandresponse(DR) resources. However, such an approach presentschallenges as it requires both technical and economic considerations.This Master Thesis proposes and analyses twomarket-based strategies applied to detached houses for dayaheadcongestion management. The strategies are implementedin an Ancillary Service toolbox developed in theMATLAB programming environment.The first strategy involves using a dynamic network tariffwhile the second uses spot price optimization. Simulationsare performed for seasonal worst-case congestion scenarioswhile satisfying comfort and economic constraints ofthe DR participants. A sensitivity analysis is carried out toassess the impact of different spot price profiles and windpower production prognosis errors on the results.Results show that congestions are managed with a feasiblenumber of participants, but that their savings are negligiblefor both strategies (between 2 and 40 SEK/participant).Moreover, using a dynamic network tariff strategy impliesa DSO cost in the range of 1700-89000 SEK. These resultsapply for a 3-days congestion period, which is estimated tooccur 5-6 times a year if the maximum hosting capacity isincreased by 5 MW.To conclude, an AS toolbox with economic constraintsis feasible for Gotland conditions with a reasonable numberof DR participants. However, the simple cost-benefitanalysis that was carried out showed that the AS toolboxapproach was still much more costly than traditional gridreinforcement.