Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In the last century the earth has experienced an increase in the global mean temperature, with
the main contributing factor being the increase in greenhouse gasses. Evidence indicates that
the burning of fossil fuels, critical in the supply of energy, contributed towards three quarters
of the carbon dioxide (CO2) increase. In 2008 South Africa reached electricity capacity
constraints. A subsequent economic downturn experienced in the country, brought about by
the worldwide economic recession, has relieved some of the strain on the electricity supply
system. However, consumption levels are returning to those experienced during 2008 and no
new base load power stations have been added. Short-term capacity constraints can be
managed by shifting the peak demand, but the electricity shortage can only be avoided by
adding additional capacity or reducing the overall electricity consumption. Supply-side
solutions are both overdue and too expensive. The only solutions that can provide lasting
results are demand-side solutions.
During the past few years the Energy Efficiency and Demand-side Management (EEDSM)
programme implemented by South Africa’s electricity supply utility, Eskom, has gained
prominence. This programme relies heavily on calculating the savings incurred through any
demand-side intervention. Energy audits enable the calculation of various consumption
scenarios and can provide valuable insight into load operation and user behaviour. Energy
audits involve a two-part procedure consisting of load surveying and an analysis. This thesis
describes the development of both these procedures, combined into a single application. The
application has been tested and provides an accurate and effective tool for simulating
consumption and quantifying savings for various load adjustments.
The results gained from the auditing application surpassed the expectations and provides the
user with a sufficient base-line consumption estimate. The results do not reflect day-to-day variations, but the simulations are sufficient to quantify savings and determine whether
demand-side interventions are financially viable. The application also presents a benchmark
for the type of applications required to successfully implement an EEDSM programme. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In die afgelope eeu het die aarde se gemiddelde temperatuur toegeneem, met die toename in
kweekhuisgasse as die grootste bydraende faktor. Dit wil ook voorkom asof die verbranding
van fossielbrandstowwe, wat noodsaaklik is vir die verskaffing van energie, verantwoordelik
is vir driekwart van die toename in koolstofdioksied (CO2). Gedurende 2008 het Suid-Afrika
elektrisiteitsbeperkings bereik. Die daaropvolgende ekonomiese afswaai wat in die land
ervaar is weensdie wêreldwye ekonomiese resessie, het van die druk op die elekriese netwerk
verlig. Verbruikersvlakke is egter besig om terug te keer na waar dit in 2008 was, maar geen
nuwe basislas-kragstasies is gebou nie. Op die kort termyn kan die kapasiteitsbeperkings
bestuur word deur die aanvraag te verskuif, maar die elektrisiteitstekort kan op die lang duur
slegs vermy word deur bykomende kapasiteit by te voeg of die totale aanvraag te verminder.
Toevoerkant-oplossings is beide agterstallig en te duur. Die enigste oplossings wat blywende
resultate kan lewer, is dus aan die verbruikerkant.
In die afgelope paar jaar het die effektiewe bestuur van energieverbruik baie aansien geniet.
Die nasionale energievoorsiener, Eskom, het ook 'n program geloods om te help met die
implimentering van energiebesparingmaatreëls. Die implementering van energie-oudits om
met die kwantifisering van besparings te help, is van integrale belang vir die sukses van die
program. Energie-oudits stel die eindverbruiker in staat om verskeie verbruiksmoontlikhede
te beproef en sodoende waardevolle inligitng te verkry rakende die verbruikspatrone van die
fasiliteit. Energie-oudits behels 'n tweeledige proses, bestaande uit 'n lasopname en 'n
verbruiksanalise. Hierdie proefskrif beskryf die ontwikkeling van 'n stelsel wat beide die
prosesse kombineer in 'n enkele applikasie. Die applikasie is getoets en bied 'n akkurate en
doeltreffende instrument om verbruik te simuleer en besparings te kwantifiseer vir verskeie
verbruiksmoontlikhede.
v
Die resultate van die oudit het die aanvanklike verwagtinge oortref en voorsien verbruikers
van 'n goeie skatting van die basisverbruik van 'n fasiliteit. Die resultate weerspieël nie dagtot-
dag variasies nie, maar die simulasies is voldoende om besparings te kwantifiseer en help
om die finansiële lewensvatbaarheid van verbruikerskant-intervensies te bepaal. Die program
bied ook 'n verwysingspunt vir applikasies wat besparingstudies wil implementeer.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/20073 |
| Date | 03 1900 |
| Creators | Van der Merwe, Johannes Schalk |
| Contributors | Vermeulen, H. J., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | 117 p. : ill. |
| Rights | Stellenbosch University |
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