Thesis (MScIng)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Electricity theft in South Africa has become a major problem. This led to several developments
from both industries and research institutes to counter these actions. Since equipment is already
installed and major capital has been invested to provide electricity for a broad spectrum
of consumers, the challenge is to find a low cost solution harnessing current investments and
technology to detect electricity theft more accurately.
This thesis investigates into the electricity theft topic. Two different methods, Time Domain
Pulse Reflectometry and a data driven platform based on the Theory of Constraints philosophy,
were investigated to provide means to detect and determine the impact of illegal electricity
usage. Both methods required detailed designs to conduct preliminary proof of concept tests in
a laboratory environment.
These methods are evaluated against their economical viability, possible practical implications
and applications. This thesis presents a practical approach to electricity theft detection
and provides the basic tools for management of this ever-increasing problem. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid Afrika se elektrisiteit diefstal statistiek het die afgelope jare skrikwekkend gegroei. Dit het
die industrie genoop om baie meer navorsing in die area te doen. Met reeds gevestigde toerusting
en tegnologie om di´e energie medium so effektief moontlik te versprei, is die uitdaging juis
om ’n ekonomiese oplossing te vind om reeds beskikbare tegnologie¨e meer doeltreffend aan te
wend.
Die doel van die tesis is om die gebied van elektrisiteit diefstal na te vors. Twee verskillende
metodes is ondersoek, naamlik Tydgebied-pulse-reflektometrie en ’n informasie gebaseerde
stelsel wat op die Randvoorwaarde Teorie gebaseer is, om effektief die omvang van elektrisiteit
diefstal in ’n mikro, asook makro omgewing te bepaal. Die twee metodes is in ’n beheerde
omgewing getoets sodat die konsepte wat ontwikkel is bewys kon word.
Die metodes is ge-evalueer in terme van die ekonomiese lewensvatbaarheid daarvan met inagneming
van die praktiese implikasies. Die tesis bied bestuur die nodige kennis om elektrisiteit
diefstal in die praktyk doeltreffend die hok mee te slaan.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/16310 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Doorduin, Riaan |
| Contributors | Mouton, H. du T., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | en_ZA |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | xxi, 233 leaves : ill. |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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