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The incorporation of social cohesion in an initial teacher education programme in the Western Cape
No full textThesis (MEd (Education))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2018.This is a qualitative study that explores social cohesion in terms of how it is understood by, teacher educators and pre-service teachers, and how it is incorporated, taught, and experienced in an initial teacher education (ITE) programme that is located within one university in the Western Cape, South Africa. It uses semi-structured interviews, observations, and a focus group interview to understand how teacher educators think about and teach social cohesion. Moreover, it focuses on how fourth year pre-service teachers experience the programme in relation to debates on social cohesion. Findings suggest that teacher educators’ understandings and pre-service teachers’ backgrounds influence their experiences of an ITE programme. It further suggests that pre-service teachers do develop attitudes and pedagogies for social cohesion, all be it unevenly so. This study contributes to better understandings of social cohesion as a priority of South African government, and how it is experienced by pre-service teachers in an ITE programme. In so doing, it contributes to how social cohesion may be realised in post-apartheid South Africa
Process simulation for a small-scale poultry slaughterhouse wastewater treatment plant
No full textThesis (Master of Environmental Management)--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2018.Fresh water is a renewable resource, but it is also finite, especially given environmental
impacts from anthropogenic activities. Globally, there are countless signs that untreated
industrial discharge into fresh watercourses is one of the main causes of ecosystem
degradation. Poultry slaughterhouse wastewater (PSW) amongst the main pollutants of fresh
water sources. In recent years, the world’s pre-eminent researchers have developed
innovative wastewater treatment processes to treat the large quantity of wastewater
generated as well as to manage the environmental health concerns arising from PSW
discharged into the environment. Furthermore, increasing wastewater treatment capital costs
and the implementation of increasingly rigorous government legislation to mitigate
environmental pollution whilst minimizing fresh water source contamination, requires that
wastewater such as PSW, be adequately treated prior to discharge.
In order to assist the small-scale poultry producers in South Africa (SA), process simulation
for a small-scale poultry slaughterhouse wastewater treatment plant was proposed using
Sumo Wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) simulation software. Sumo is an innovative and
most versatile wastewater simulation package on the market. The simulator is capable of
modelling treatment plants of unlimited complexity, focusing largely on Biochemical oxygen
demand (BOD), Chemical oxygen demand (COD), nitrogen and phosphorus removal; with
digester, and side streams design options, being available. Considering the possible
advantages in modelling and ongoing studies of implementing wastewater treatment to
increase water management, anaerobic digestion of high strength wastewater such as PSW,
warranted this research study. Model development from the simulation included the
evaluation of numerous design options to assist small scale poultry producers, to have a
variety of designs to choose from in their PSW WWTP designs.
With the aid of Sumo, two models were designed in this study, namely a single-stage and a
two-stage anaerobic digestion without a recycle. The PSW used as feed was obtained from
a local poultry slaughterhouse (Western Cape, South Africa). Both model designs predicted
the reduction of the organic matter (COD, BOD5) total suspended solids (TSS), and volatile
suspended solids (VSS) in the PSW. The digester for the single stage anaerobic digestion
system modelled was set to operate at steady state for 150 days under mesophilic
temperature (35 ˚C) with a solid retention time (SRT) of 25 days. The COD, TSS, VSS and
BOD removal efficiencies reached a maximum of 64%, 77%, 84%, and 94%, respectively, at
an organic load rate (OLR) of 143.6 mg COD/L/day. A minute increase in the ammonia
(NH3) and phosphate (PO3-
4) concentration was observed once the simulation was
completed.
As for the two-stage anaerobic digestion system, both digesters were set to perform at
mesophilic temperatures (35 ˚C) and a SRT of 13 days in the first digester and 25 days in
the subsequent digester. The two-stage anaerobic digestion showed better performance in
comparison to the single-stage anaerobic digestion system. The COD, TSS, VSS and BOD5
removal efficiencies reached a maximum of 69%, 79%, 85%, and 96%, respectively, at an at
an OLR of 143.6 mg COD/L/day. A similar trend regarding phosphate and ammonia removal
was noticed in the two-stage anaerobic digestion, suggesting a tertiary treatment system to
be in place for further treatment.
Although, the two-stage anaerobic digestion demonstrated adequate performance, for the
purpose of this study, the single-stage was the process recommended for PSW treatment,
as it is less costly and will be suitable for small scale poultry producers; albeit biogas
production is much higher when digesters are connected in series.
The PSW treatment modelling for this study was successfully employed with the resultant
effluent being compliant with the City of Cape Town (CCT) wastewater and industrial effluent
by-law discharge limits. Although, both the PO3-
4 and NH3 were suggested to require further
monitoring.
Therefore, the poultry slaughterhouse from which the PSW was obtained will be able to
safely discharge the treated wastewater proposed in this research into local water bodies,
i.e. rivers in the Western Cape, SA; however, the treated PSW will not be suitable for re-use
as process water
The re-skilling requirements of database administrators in a big data environment
No full textThesis (MTech (Information Technology))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2018Big data generated within organisations is on an exponential increase. It is not only the increase in the volume and velocity of structured data but more so the complexity of unstructured data that has presented new challenges. Organisations have since realised the potential to derive new business value from this unstructured data and therefore, the requirement to manage such data has arisen. Even though the traditional database administrator (DBA) administers the organisation's traditional structured data within the relational database management system (RDBMS) environment, the unstructured nature of big data presents potential new challenges. As a result, there is a requirement for new technologies to store and process both structured and unstructured data, as well as a range of skill sets that are required to administer it. It is however not clear whether these skill sets exist within a single individual such as the traditional DBA or within different roles across various functional departments within the organisation. This study explores the difference in skill set between the DBA administering the RDBMS environment and the requirement to transition into a similar position within a big data environment. It further compares the current DBA's skill set with other roles found within the big data environment to explore where the DBA role fits into the big data environment
A numerical analysis of the hydrodynamic mixing characteristics of a rectangular versus a cylindrical mixing crystallizer tank for a membrane distillation apparatus
No full textThesis (MTech (Mechanical Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2018.A membrane distillation crystallization (MDC) experimental setup was designed, constructed and commissioned with rectangular mixing crystallizer tanks. The advantages and disadvantages of a rectangular mixing tank are compared to the traditional cylindrical mixing tank with baffling by means of a computational fluid dynamic (CFD) analysis in Ansys Fluent. The effect of tank configuration and geometry on the hydrodynamic and mixing characteristics for efficient momentum, solid suspension, heat and mass transfer were investigated. The hydrodynamic conditions in a crystallizer-mixing tank determine the quality of fluid mixing essential for optimal crystallization. Forty-five degree pitched blade turbines (PBT) were used to provide the agitation in the stainless steel rectangular jacketed tanks. Clear polycarbonate replicas of the rectangular tanks were manufactured to visually observe the mixing process in the tanks. Silica particles were used to represent the calcium carbonate crystals in the experiment. The data gathered from these experiments showed that the tanks should be operated between 600 to 750 rpm in the CFD simulations to simulate partial to complete suspension. In the numerical simulations a rectangular tank was compared to a cylindrical tank with baffling of the same volume. The partial differential equations solved in the numerical simulation were the conservation of mass (continuity), conservation of momentum and additional turbulence equations. In order to solve the turbulent fluid flow characteristics, the industry standard two-equation model, namely the K-epsilon model was used. This model was refined by the addition of the Wen-Yu drag model, the Simonin turbulent dissipation and the Simonin et al. turbulence interaction models. The RANS based RNG (k-ε), derived from the instantaneous Navier-Stokes equation was selected as the preferred model to analyse the hydrodynamic flow fields in the tanks. The 3D sliding mesh method was used to compute a time accurate solution. The Eulerian-granular multiphase model was used to predict the degree of solids suspension in the tanks. The efficiency of mixing within the tank was measured by the tank’s ability to keep the crystals in suspension and preventing any particle from settling at the bottom for more than 1-2 second(s). The mixing tanks were initially loaded with 5% v/v, which equates to a loaded height of approximately 10 mm. The simulations were done with the use of the volume fraction function to visually observe the cloud height and gauge the homogeneity and distribution of the particulates within the fluid flow fields. The results from the experimental setup were compared to the CFD simulations to qualify the use of CFD simulations for the comparison of the geometrically different tanks. Lastly, the findings from the CFD simulations were used to compare the tanks and determine if the rectangular tank built for the MDC experiment perform satisfactorily to replace a standard cylindrical tank with baffling for this application
Anti-tick activities of extracts of Tulbaghia violacea (Alliaceae) cultivated in hydroponic media amended with entomopathogenic fungi (Hypocreales)
No full textThesis (MTech (Horticulture))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2018.Ticks and tick-borne diseases are important limiting factors to the attainment of sustainable animal and human health, affecting livelihood of resource poor farming communities in developing countries. Rhipicephalus appendiculatus and Amblyomma variegatum (Ixodidae) are among the most troubling tick species in Africa. While ticks can be controlled by applying chemical acaricides, these chemicals are quite expensive, especially, for small-scale famers in developing countries. Hence, the quest for alternative tick control over the years have revealed that entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) and plant extracts have huge prospects as sustainable alternatives for tick control. Beauveria bassiana (Hypocreales) is a fungal entomopathogen with the ability to colonize plants endophytically and induce secondary metabolite production in plants, and it has been found to be a potential biological control agent against a wide range of arthropods. Several plant species including plant species belonging to the family Alliaceae possess anti-tick activities (repellent and toxic); therefore, integrating the two strategies by inoculating Tulbaghia violacea with B. bassiana could enhance secondary metabolite contents in extracts obtained from the plant and increase medicinal materials. The primary purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of indigenous endophytic entomopathogens inoculation of T. violacea on the plant growth, tissue nutrient contents and secondary metabolites, and anti-tick activities of extracts of T. violacea. The specific objectives were: (i) to carry out a study on the effects of inoculating T. violacea with fungal strains of B. bassiana and Clonostachys rosea on plant growth and tissue nutrient contents in extracts of T. violacea with the view of selecting one of the two fungi for further investigation (ii) to compare secondary metabolite profiles of extracts obtained from plants exposed to fungus (EPF) inoculum and control treatment during cultivation, and (iii) to determine whether exposure of T. violacea to an endophytic fungus (B. bassiana) during cultivation affects the repellent and acaricidal activities of extracts of T. violacea on A. variegatum and R. appendiculatus. The study had two experiments, presented in chapters two and three. In the first experiment, eight weeks old potted seedlings of T. violacea were inoculated separately with B. bassiana (strain SM3) and C. rosea (strain SM8) conidia suspended at concentrations of 1 x 106 conidia mL-1. Plant growth parameters, such as number of leaves, plant height (aerial part), fresh weights of aerial parts, and tissue nutrient contents were assessed. Results indicated that B. bassiana induced higher growth of plants than C. rosea. Inoculation with B. bassiana did not significantly (P ˃ 0.05) influence most of the growth parameters, number of leaves, fresht weight of roots and of fresh weight aerial parts (leaves) of T. violacea assessed in the current study. However, mean plant heights and root lengths were significantly (P 0.05)
Experiences of working at a construction project site in Cape Town as a foreigner to South Africa
No full textThesis (MTech (Business Administration in Project Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Cape Town, 2018.The demand for project management specialists grows worldwide. Traditionally, certain industries have been more project-oriented than others. However, nowadays, organisations in both private and public sector have embraced Project Management as the ideal means of managing projects with the hopes of ensuring the intended benefit delivery. Project management is a skill that is in high demand in South Africa. Project managers play a vital role in the economic growth of a developing country. This has resulted in organisations investing considerable resources to ensure that they build the capacity needed to effectively manage projects. South Africa is a diverse country in terms of age, culture, education, gender, race and religion amongst a group of people living or working together. Globalization has increased diversity within the workplace which is challenging and worsened knowing the country’s history. The attributes required to be a successful project manager include excellent interpersonal, communication skills, project management skills, adept problem solving and the ability to work well under pressure, whilst being highly adaptable and logical thinker. Confidence, strong negotiating skills and being able to motivate a team in order to achieve the goals is necessary; a project manager is a leader and a skilled delegator. Managers have diverse team to manage which speaks to the need for people of the different social dispositions to be able to co-exist. In the workplace, there is generally an organisational culture that speaks largely to how things are done. The culture observed by the outside world is largely because of the coming together of all the different people, with different origins, different tastes and different objectives. In this study, a construct was developed to identify the perceptions of the subordinates about the environment they work in and to identify the exact differences – things or behaviours that are perceived to be alien to their expectations
Critical success factors for airlines in Southern Africa
No full textThesis (DTech (Tourism and Hospitality Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2018.The airline industry is structurally challenged by its very nature, facing high fixed costs, cyclical demand, intense competition and vulnerability to external shocks. This is exacerbated further by other endogeneous and exogeneous challenges in the operating environment, which make it difficult to operate airlines successfully. Consequently, structural, endogeneous and exogeneous challenges produce thin profit margins for airlines, thereby prompting airline managers to identify critical success factors to
these challenges. However, operating airlines in southern Africa has proved to be fraught with difficulties resulting in several airlines terminating their services after short periods of operation, thereby disrupting travellers. The purpose of this research is to identify critical success factors to overcome challenges facing airlines in the region. A mixed-methods research design and an extensive literature review on critical success factors for airlines was employed, followed by several interviews with key
personnel at eight southern African airlines. Purposive sampling was used to collect data from 54 respondents from eight different airlines. From the study, it is clear that the ability for airlines to survive financially is seriously threatened by organisational, industry, and environmental success factors. Within the organisation management inefficiency, labour inefficiency, use of aged fleets and management turnover significantly affected negatively the performances of state carriers, whilst alliances and the use of a standardised fleet significantly affected positively the performances of private airlines. The following environmental success factors namely, political, economic and technological factors, significantly affected negatively the performances of all airlines. Furthermore, national airlines received preferential treatment, which often distorted any prospect of a level playing field, thereby preventing privately owned carriers from competing effectively. The following industry success factors namely, rivalry amongst existing competitors, the bargaining power of suppliers and the bargaining power of customers significantly affected negatively the
performances of airlines. As such, the following industry success factors were identified, namely the low threat of substitutes and new entrants, which are not enough to mitigate intense rivalry and the high bargaining power of customers and suppliers. Several suppliers can squeeze airlines, and even though the threat of new entrants is low, wherever there is potential, there will be new entrants, creating overcapacity and reducing yields. Consequently, to overcome challenges in the region the following
organisational success factors were identified, namely management efficiency, the use of a modern fleet, fuel efficiency, labour efficiency, alliances, aircraft choice and customer satisfaction
Analysis of the effect of renewable generation on the power quality of the grid, modelling and analysis of harmonic and voltage distortion
No full textThesis (Master of Engineering in Electrical Engineering)--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2018.As the electric energy demand grows, there is a significant increase in the penetration of renewable generation (RG) in the existing electrical grid network. Interconnecting of renewable generation technologies to an existing distribution system has proven to provide various benefits such as meeting the growing load demand and its contribution to energy system decarbonisation, long-term energy security and expansion of energy access to new energy consumers in the developing urban and rural areas. However, the aim of this thesis is to conduct a study on the impacts of renewable generation on the power quality of electrical grid. Therefore, this work aims at assessing the potential effects of Distributed Generation (DG) on the operation of electric power system by modelling of harmonics and voltage distortion. With different types of renewable generation available at present, it is believed that some designs contribute significantly to electrical network’s Power Quality (PQ). After the analysis of harmonic currents (chapter 6 and 7 of this thesis) introduced by renewable generation technologies, their negative impact on the power quality of the grid is seen to be apparent at point of connection (POC) but only within controlled limits. Analytical method for modeling of harmonic interactions between the grid and aggregated distributed generation technologies are investigated using DIgSILENT Power Factory software and the results obtained are discussed
Investigation of interoperability of IEC 61850 protection functions
No full textThesis (Master of Engineering in Electrical Engineering)--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, [2018].Introduction of IEC 61850 standard defined substation automation system communication. The need of interoperability among the relevant devices coming from different vendors is a necessity to ensure utilities/municipalities obtain value for money. Vendors used their own proprietary tools to achieve communication in a substation. This caused an Intelligent Electronic Device (IED) from vendor A could not communicate with an IED from vendor B. Utilities/municipalities are forced to depend on single vendor solutions in a substation automation system. IEC 61850 systems tout Interoperability as a major gain in the Substation Automation System (SAS) environment. The implementation of interoperable systems in SAS environment requires extensive testing and careful selection of vendors. This involves extensive testing to meet the required requirements of a certain SAS. Interoperability implementation and testing methods need to be formulated and tested rigorously with various scenarios of interoperability in an SAS.
GOOSE messages form the foundation of IEC 61850 standard as they are responsible for the copper-less connections for peer to peer communications. GOOSE messages are based on peer to peer communications to enable interoperability at the bay level which is called horizontal communication. IEDs need to be carefully selected to ensure GOOSE messaging interoperability is achieved. Test methods are equally important as methodology to achieve interoperability. The purpose of this research is to perform an investigation on interoperability of IEC 61850 conformant IEDs based on evaluation of their protection functions. The research looks at various vendors on how each has interpreted the IEC 61850 standard. Also an analysis on requirements to achieve interoperability is conducted. Investigation on various vendor independent system configuration tools to ease the implementation burden of a multivendor application is done. Evaluation into flexible object modelling and naming conventions in order to achieve interoperability is performed. Various tests using different tools to assess the integrity of interoperability are completed.
The research delivers a methodology to evaluate and implement GOOSE message interoperability. The interoperability methodology can be used for improvement of interoperability applications. The methodology can also be implemented as procurement requirement to ensure interoperability. The evaluation/implementation of interoperability can be included in Factory Acceptance Test (FAT). The methodology to achieve interoperability is only usefully when requirements are clear with regard to what needs to achieved by SAS
Leadership styles commonly applied by managers to motivate subordinates to perform : a survey of managers' perception at a University of Technology in the Western Cape
No full textThesis (MTech (Business Administration in Project Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2018.This research focuses on the leadership styles that motivate subordinates to perform. Leadership is one of the most important keys that bring success, balance and direction in different organizations. Leaders who exploit efficiency begin by understanding leadership styles. The contingency leadership style derives its credibility from a behavioral approach. Leadership style is an important determinant that stimulates and increases motivation among employees. Employee reactions to management typically depend on employee characteristics as well as executive characteristics. Leadership style is a character or behavior that leaders adopt in order to influence their employees in the environments in which they exercise their power (Hersey et al, 2001: 52). There are different perspectives on how and what needs to be done by a leader to motivate subordinates to function well. Others suggest that transformational leadership is the answer, while some research results identify transactional leadership as the best style for tasks to be accomplished. On the other hand, leadership cannot be studied to the exclusion of follow-up, since followers play a role in the effectiveness of a leader. Projects are characterized by the use of teams to execute tasks, and teams are a complex structure requiring an understanding of their dynamics. This research seeks to establish generic leadership styles that can motivate teams to perform. It is estimated that 47% to 54% of projects are not completed on time, what style of leadership is needed to improve project performance