Thesis (MScEng)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001, / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A frequency domain Power Line Carrier (PLC) simulation program, with the ability to simulate signal attenuation including the coupling equipment, was developed. This simulation program was put to the test against the independent program of Professor L.M. Wedepohl and against practical field measurements. The predictions of the two programs were in precise agreement for a wide range of input parameters. Results from the field tests and predictions also showed close agreement. Further investigations, applying the simulation program, explained how ground conductors and soil resistivity influences PLC signal propagation. An experiment, which was developed to monitor PLC signal attenuation, was installed on the PLC system between Koeberg power station and Acacia substation, both near Cape Town. Data logged continuously over 28 days, indicated measurable and deterministic PLC signal attenuation variations with typical time constants of a few hours. Simulations of the PLC system indicated that the signal amplitude variations were influenced by changes in the height above the ground plane of the phase conductor. This significant finding creates the possibility to obtain real time knowledge of the sag of an Over Head Transmission Line (OHTL) by exploiting an operational PLC system. The knowledge about real time sag can be used in economical dynamic ampacity control systems. The practical and financial benefits to the electricity supply and distribution industry can be significant. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: 'n Frekwensie gebied "Power Line Carrier" (PLC) simulasie program wat die sein verswakking en die koppeling verliese kan naboots, is ontwikkel. Die program is getoets teen die onafhanklike program van Professor L.M. Wedepohl asook praktiese metings in die veld. Die vooruitskatings van beide programme is presies die selfde vir 'n wye reeks van parameters. Metings en nabootsings het ook noue ooreenstemming getoon. Verdere ondersoek, m. b. v. die program, is gedoen ten einde te verduidelik hoe grond-geleiers en grond weerstand die PLC sein se voortplanting beïnvloed. 'n Eksperiment om die PLC sein se verswakking mee te monitor is ontwerp. Die eksperiment was geïnstalleer in die PLC stelsel tussen Koeberg kernkragstasie en Acacia substasie, naby Kaapstad. Die eksperiment was vir 28 dae geaktiveer en die data wat die eksperiment opgelewer het toon meetbare PLC sein verswakking met tyd konstantes van 'n paar uur. Verdere nabootsings het gewys dat die veranderende verswakking in die PLC seinsterkte toegeskryf kan word aan die wisseling in hoogte van die fase geleiers bo die grondvlak. Hierdie bevinding is van besondere belang aangesien dit die moontlikheid oopmaak om die gemiddelde sak van kraglyne in reële tyd en onder bedryfs toestande te kan meet. Die informasie van die reële sak van kraglyne kan gebruik word in effektiewe stroomdrae-vermoë beheer stelsels. Die praktiese en finansiële voordele wat krag voorsieners en verspreiders hieruit kan put kan aansienlik wees.

Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The implementation of the Caprivi Link Interconnector (CLI) High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) scheme in 2010 connecting the weak Namibian and Zambian Alternating Current (AC) transmission networks via overhead line is based on Voltage Source Converter (VSC) technology. This world-first combination of attributes presents a unique opportunity to study harmonic interaction between weak AC systems and VSC-based HVDC schemes. Relatively few publications exist that focus on AC and DC harmonic interaction and very few refer to VSC HVDC schemes. Because weak AC systems are much more prone to harmonic distortion than strong AC systems, there is a clear motivation for more detailed work in this field. In order to understand the context wherein AC and DC harmonic interaction exists, the fields of AC power system harmonic analysis and resonance, VSC switching theory, HVDC scheme configurations, Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) techniques and frequency domain analysis techniques are discussed. This thesis then presents the concept of Harmonic Amplitude Transfer Ratio (HATR) by a theoretical analysis of AC and DC harmonic interaction due to the fundamental component, as well as harmonic interaction due to scheme characteristic harmonics and is compared to the simulation results obtained from different software solutions. Simulation and modelling techniques for AC and DC harmonic interaction are discussed including AC and DC systems modelling. The theoretical results and simulation results are compared to the results obtained from a real life case study on the CLI HVDC scheme where a harmonic resonance condition occurred. The correlation of these three sets of results confirms the validity of the theories presented and possible mitigation of the case study resonance problems is explored. The results and conclusion highlight a variety of interesting points on harmonic sequence components analysis, VSC zero sequence elimination, AC and DC harmonic interaction due to the fundamental component and the HATR for different PWM methods, AC and DC harmonic interaction due to scheme characteristic harmonics, modelling techniques and mitigation for the resonance conditions experienced in the analysed real life case study. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die implementering van die Caprivi Skakel Tussenverbinder (CLI) hoogspannings- gelykstroom (HSGS) skema in 2010 wat die swak Namibiese and Zambiese Wisselstroom (WS) transmissienetwerke verbind via „n oorhoofse lyn is gebasseer op Spanningsgevoerde-omsetter tegnologie. Hierdie wêreld-eerste kombinasie van eienskappe verskaf „n unieke geleentheid om harmoniese interaksie tussen swak WS stelsels en Spanningsgevoerde-omsetter Hoogspannings GS stelsels te bestudeer. Relatief min publikasies wat fokus op WS en GS harmoniese interaksie bestaan, en baie min verwys na Spanningsgevoerde-omsetter Hoogspannings GS skemas. Omdat swak WS stelsels baie meer geneig is tot harmoniese verwringing as sterk WS stelsels, is daar „n duidelike motivering vir meer gedetaileerde werk in hierdie veld. Om die konteks te verstaan waarin WS en GS harmoniese interaksie bestaan, word die velde van WS kragstelsel harmoniese analise en resonansie, Spanningsgevoerde-omsetter skakelteorie, Hoogspannings GS skema opstellings, Pulswydte Modulasie (PWM) tegnieke, en frekwensiegebied analiese tegnieke bespreek. Hierdie tesis stel dan die konsep van Harmoniese Amplitude Oordragsverhouding voor deur „n teoretiese analise van WS en GS harmoniese interaksie na aanleiding van die fundamentele komponent, asook harmoniese interaksie a.g.v. harmonieke wat die stelsel kenmerk en word vergelyk met die simulasieresultate verkry uit verskilllende sagteware oplossings. Simulasie- en modelleringstegnieke vir WS en GS harmoniese interaksie word bespreek insluitend WS- en GS stelselmodellering. Die teoretiese resultate en simulasieresultate word vergelyk met die resultate wat verkry is uit „n werklike gevallestudie op die CLI HSGS skema waar „n harmoniese resonansie toestand voorgekom het. Die ooreenkomste tussen hierdie drie stelle resultate bevestig die geldigheid van die teorieë soos uiteengeset voor, en die moontlike verbetering van die gevallestudie resonansie probleme word verken. Die resultate en samevatting beklemtoon „n verskeidenheid punte aangaande harmoniese volgorde-komponent analiese, Spanningsgevoerde-omsetter zero-volgorde uitskakeling, WS en GS harmoniese interaksie na aanleiding van die fundamentele komponent en die Harmoniese Amplitude Oordragsverhouding vir verskillende PWM metodes, WS en GS harmoniese interaksie na aanleiding van skema-kenmerkende harmonieke, modelleringstegnieke, asook verbetering van die resonansie toestande soos ervaar in die analise van die werklike gevallestudie.

Hoists and cranes exist in many contexts around the world, often carrying veryheavy loads. The safety for the user and bystanders is of utmost importance. Thisthesis investigates whether it is possible to perform fault detection on a systemlevel, measuring the inputs and outputs of the system without introducing newsensors. The possibility of detecting dangerous faults while letting safe faultspass is also examined.A mathematical greybox model is developed and the unknown parametersare estimated using data from a labscale test crane. Validation is then performedwith other datasets to check the accuracy of the model. A linear observer of thesystem states is created using the model. Simulated fault injections are made,and different fault detection methods are applied to the residuals created withthe observer. The results show that dangerous faults in the system or the sensorsthemselves are detectable, while safe faults are disregarded in many cases.The idea of performing model-based fault detection from a system point ofview shows potential, and continued investigation is recommended.

M.Ed. / Please refer to full text to view abstract

This paper describes the basic concepts of our solution to improve the performance of Ethernet Communication on a Linux Cluster environment by introducing Reliable Low Latency Ethernet Sockets. We show that about 25% of the socket latency can be saved by using our simplified protocol. Especially, we put emphasis on demonstrating that this performance benefit is able to speed up the MPI level communication. Therefore we have developed a new BTL component for Open MPI, an open source MPI-2 implementation which offers with its Modular Component Architecture a nearly ideal environment to implement our changes. Microbenchmarks of MPI collective and Point-to-Point operations were performed. We see a performance improvement of 8% to 16% for LU and SP implementations of the NAS parallel benchmark suite which spends a significant amount of time in the MPI. Practical application tests with Abinit, an electronic structure calculation program, show that the runtime of be nearly halved on a 4 node system. Thus we show evidence that our new Ethernet communication protocol is able to increase the speedup of parallel applications considerably.

This project is a master theses in Industrial Design Engineering written during the autumn of 2017 at Luleå University of Technology and Liko-Hill-Rom in Alvik, Luleå. Liko Hill-Rom is a world-leading company that manufactures and develops patient lifts, slings, mobile lifts, etc. to customers around the world. Liko’s Ovearhead lift system is a system used for lifting and moving disabled people, for example at homes for the elderly, schools and habilitation, hospitals or at home.This project is a development process that concerns the vertical support in Liko Hill-Rom’s Overhead System. The vertical supports are the part that attaches the entire overhead system to the ceiling and our task has been to create a new or developed concept on today’s vertical support. Since these vertical supports are attached to a rail, we needed to create a good interface between these two parts. In order to achieve this, we have collaborated with another group whose task has been to develop the rails in this Overhead. Today, Liko Hill-Rom’s Overhead Lift system is a major part of Liko Hill-Rom’s product portfolio, which is in need of improvements, especially the vertical supports, in order to meet customer and business needs.The goal of our project has been to deliver a smarter and more cost-effective solution of the vertical supports and at the same time maintaining the same reliability as today’s system. Liko Hill-Rom’s current assortment consists of many different variants of vertical supports. By reducing the number of these, can contribute to a more profitable concept “one that fits all”, which will make the design and installation more rapid.The project process was based on a Stage-gate process which is influenced from Liko Hill-Rom’s internal guidelines for a product development process. The stakeholders is based on users and experts in the field and these have been involved in the project process to ensure a good design for all. The project has also been built on a number of scientific theories such as ergonomics, semiotics, affordance and usability, to ensure that the result of the project was based with scientific support.Throughout the process different design methods have been performed, in order to create a concept that fulfills the needs and requirements from our stakeholders. We have for instances created full-scale prototypes in order to develop, evaluate and improve our concept throughout this project. In order to ensure that this concept could withstand the load requirements that Liko Hill-Rom´s product requires, we also perform both mathematical and finite element calculations.The result is a new concept that will replace all 9 adjustable vertical support included in the Liko Hill-Rom system today. The design of the new concept will be considerably more flexible because the majority of the components will be universal. This means that our created concept will be more cost-effective compared to today’s vertical support.

Subject of this thesis is to design a web application for overhead calculation, whose purpose is to be a substitution for presently used solution, which is considered to be deprecated. This is being done as a part of strategy of SAP SE corporation for which the solution is designed. This ambition to develop and improve cloud portfolio of already existing applications of the company should lead to betterment of already existing applications of this type and in a long run an improvement of the company’s market position as well as it’s products. The thesis is divided into 3 parts. It begins with a description of theoretical concepts, tools and principles, which are then utilized in further chapters. The following chapter analyzes current state of the affairs, where it is illustrated, what the current solution looks like along with key parts of it. The final, 3rd chapter is dedicated to a description of implemented solution and it also closely describes key differences mentioned in chapter 2.

Tahle práce se zabývá monitorováním venkovních vysokonapěťových vedeních, což mohou být vedení od 70kV do 400kV. Senzory jsou umístěny na vodiči a hlavní myšlenkou je vyhodnotit mechanické chování vodičů, a to od nízkých frekvencí (zlomky Hz) až po vysoké frekvence (desítky Hz). Tahle práce se zabývala pohyby o nízkých frekvencích a vysokých amplitudách a popsala možnosti sestavení těchto pohybů na základě měření ze senzorů. Konkrétně se jedná o pohyby v případě silného větru, zkratu, opadávání ledu nebo dalších. Všechno tohle pomáhá operátorů dělat rozhodnutí ohledně provozování sítí. Vývoj zahrnuje přidání/kombinaci nových senzorů, popsání matematického algoritmu potřebného k sestavení pohybu na základě toho co bylo změřeno, ať už se jedná o hodnoty získané simulací, laboratorním testem nebo reálným měřením na vedení.

Overhead lines are using in the vast majority for distribution of electricity in medium voltage level in the Czech republic. This Master’s Thesis deals with theoretical and practical knowledges to design and construction of these lines. Particularly, the mechanical properties of overheads lines and solving their calculation in accordance with applicable standards. The main task is to acquaint potentional designers in this sphere with this issue, which is recently ignored. An important benefit is the practical calculation of the actual overhead 22kV.

Item of Master´s thesis is to design, review and compare two variants of steel structures production hall with overhead crane with load capacity 25t. One variant is frame construction and second one is construction with trusses. Layout dimensions is 45m x 60m and the height of the ridge is 10m. Stability is provided by wall and roof bracings. Building is sheathed. Structures is situated in Frýdek - Místek.