Cape Peninsula University of Technology
CPUT Electronic Theses and Dissertations RepositoryNot a member yet
2175 research outputs found
Sort by
The nature of learning support in rural schools
No full textThesis (MEd (Education))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016.The focus of this research study is on learning support to learners in rural schools
as experienced by learning support professionals and teachers in order to identify
best-practices and the obstacles experienced in this regard. It was envisaged that
continuous exploration of current practices could assist in identifying ways to
support the development of inclusive education. The research questions to
address this aspect were: What is the nature of learning support in rural schools
as experienced by teachers? and What is the nature of learning support in rural
schools as experienced by learning support professionals? The aim of this study
was therefore to explore and describe the nature of learning support in rural
schools, in order to make some recommendations to learning support
professionals, teachers and education authorities to ensure the effective
development and implementation of learning support strategies in rural schools.
The research study was conducted from a qualitative approach, utilising
explorative, descriptive and contextual research designs. Purposive sampling was
employed and data saturation determined the sample size. The findings were
based on a structured analysis framework. Ethical aspects included informed
consent, voluntary participation and confidentialit
IEC 61850-9-2 based sampled values and IEC 61850-8-1 Goose messages mapping on an FPGA platform
No full textThesis (MTech (Electrical Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016.Electricity substation monitoring and control systems have evolved over the years from simple systems capable of achieving minimalistic functions to autonomous, self-healing smart grid schemes (Farhangi, 2010). The migration of technology to networked smart grid systems was driven by the need for standardisation of communication networks, system configuration and also the reduction of system implementation costs and engineering time.
Before the introduction of a uniform communication standard, legacy (non-standardised) communication protocols, for example, the Distributed Network Protocol (DNP3) were used by Remote Terminal Units (RTUs) for information exchange (Luwaca, 2014). These communication protocols could not provide a standard naming convention or data semantics since the data/information was accessed using an address-based system. The implementation of automation systems based on legacy protocols and RTUs was expensive because of parallel copper wiring required to connect instrument transformers and circuit breakers to multiple RTUs for protection and monitoring functions (Iloh et al., 2014). Legacy systems refer to Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems implemented using RTUs and legacy communication protocols. Legacy systems tended to be vendor specific because devices from different vendors did not support the same communication protocol. These issues led to the introduction of the IEC 61850 standard. The IEC 61850 standard for “communication networks and systems in a substation” provides standardised naming convention, data semantics, standardised device configuration and also device interoperability and interchangeability in some instances. The IEC 61850 standard provides a solution to expensive parallel copper wiring and standardisation issues experienced with legacy protocols. In as much as the introduction of the IEC 61850 standard addresses problems experienced with legacy system there is still a need to provide inexpensive access to IEC 61850-compliant devices and effective knowledge transfer to facilitate implementation of automation systems based on this standard. The development of an IEC 61850-compliant device requires a specialised skillset and financial investment for research and industrialisation therefore only a few vendors manufacture these devices resulting in an increase in production and manufacturing costs. For this reason this research project develops VHDL modules for mapping IEC 61850-9-2 Sampled Value (SV) messages and IEC 61850-8-1 Generic Object Oriented Substation Event (GOOSE) messages on a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) platform. Sampled values are used for transmitting current and voltage transformer (CT and VT) measurements to protection devices while GOOSE messages exchange information/commands between primary equipment (CT, VT and circuit breaker) and protection devices over an Ethernet network known as the process bus
Performance analysis of a protection scheme based on P-class synchrophasor measurements
No full textThesis (MTech (Electrical Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016.Power grid and system protection advancement greatly depend on technological advances. Advent technologies like digital microprocessor type protective relays facilitate paradigm shifts, providing inimitable beneficial engineering adaptations. Phasor measuring technology provides one such technological advance. The onset and rapid development of the Phasor Measuring Unit (PMU) provides an excellent platform for phasor-based, power system engineering.
Power transmission constitutes a critical section in the electric power system. The power system transmission lines are susceptible to faults which require instant isolation to establish and maintain consistent system stability. This research focuses on the study of transmission line protection based on P-Class synchrophasor measurements. The IEEE C37.238-2011 Precision Time Protocol (PTP) paradigm shift facilitates practical application of synchrophasors in protection schemes. Synchrophasor procession and accurate data alignment over wide areas support the hypothesis of a phasor-based transmission line differential protection. This research aims to directly implement P-Class synchrophasors in transmission line differential protection, employing synchrophasors to determine fault conditions and administer corresponding protective actions in wide area transmission lines. The research also aims to evaluate the operational characteristics of the synchrophasor-based transmission line differential protection scheme.
The research deliverables include a laboratory scale Test-bench that implements the PMU-based transmission line differential protection scheme, and a differential protection utility software solution that follows guidelines specified by the C37.118-2011 standard for synchrophasors.
The findings stand to evaluate performance of the PMU-based line differential protection scheme, verifying the protection model as an alternate, practical and feasible backup protection solution. The research deliverables include a synchrophasor-based current differential algorithm, software utility for implementing the PMU-based protection scheme and a Test-bench for concept and feasibility validation
Optimising collector plate geometry for a specific solar syphon system design
No full textThesis (MTech (Mechanical Engineering))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016.Solar energy is still not being used effectively in countries in the developing world, though it's a partial solution to the problem of shortage and expensive energy. Normally harvested through flat plate collectors, converting solar radiation into heat is the most direct application that can be effected in water heating systems. Many researchers have attempted to develop means of improving the efficiency of the flat plate solar energy collector; however there appears to be no evidence of any work regarding the effect of geometric configuration on the performance of flat plate solar collector.
This study presents results obtained when comparing the performance of a solar water heating system equipped with three manufactured flat plate solar collector panels of numerically identical surface area but of different geometric configuration as they were individually attached to a typical geyser. Data was obtained inside a laboratory. The amount of heat acquired from flat plate collectors of solar energy depends primarily on their surface area that is exposed to the solar irradiance, however, the geometry of the collectors was thought that it might affect to some extent the amount of heat harvested. The circulation of the water from the panel to the geyser was due to the self-induced thermo-syphon effect. The results obtained during the test period (7 hours per day for two consecutive days) indicated that the system’s thermal efficiency was best when the square geometrical configuration collector was used. A dimensional analysis using the Π Buckingham method that was performed on the parameters affecting a flat plate solar collector yielded three dimensionless numbers that lead to a power law relationship which might be useful in enhancing solar water heating systems’ design
A comparative study of oxygenation techniques in the hydroponic cultivation of Pelargonium Tomentosum
No full textThesis (MTech (Horticultural Science))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016.This aim of this study was to investigate the viability of growing P. tomentosum in deep water culture (DWC) hydroponics and to assess the effects of various methods of oxygenating the nutrient solution with regards to growth, development and chlorophyll responses. The experiment was conducted over a period of 74 days. In chapter 3, 16 different methods of oxygenation were applied to 9 replicates. The control had passive aeration. The treatments were made up of air-pumps, vortex oxygenators and the application of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) at various frequency intervals; these were combined with each other and run as separate oxygenation methods
Factors influencing IT investments in a selected University of Technology
No full textThesis (MTech (Business Administration))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016.The study, using a selected University of Technology (UoT) as a case study, investigated factors influencing information technology (IT) investments in adopting new technologies in University of Technologies (UoTs). The objective is to determine the benefits of IT investments in UoTs and the impact on UoT operations. Technology is constantly advancing and impacting on organisations’ decisions and how to acquire the right technology for effective administration. IT-investment decisions require unique understanding and management by organisations to properly adapt to changing technology. The research was based on the premise that the purpose of deploying new technologies in any organisation is to reduce the costs of running the organisation and to improve operational effectiveness. This would include Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). However, at most UoTs there is a slow response to adopting new technologies, making them lag behind in the deployment of such technologies
Application of a knowledge management system for tacit knowledge in the railway sector in South Africa
No full textThesis (MTech (Business Information Systems))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016.This research reports on a study conducted in the railway industry in South Africa, the purpose being to help the railway industry by showing how a knowledge management system can be used in the task of extracting tacit knowledge. In the light of the fact that railways in many countries throughout the world function as an effective mass transportation system for passengers, this study aims to design and propose a model that will help the railway industry in South Africa in the task of implementing a knowledge management system to facilitate the process of extracting tacit knowledge from experienced employees and making it explicit knowledge in order to sustain railway system operations. This study looked at the process of designing a model that is presented as a recommendation to be used for a knowledge management system in the railway sector in South Africa. The aim of this study is not to provide a technical solution but to give a viable and workable reply to the main research question of this study: How can a knowledge management system be implemented or deployed to the railway sector
Host-guest compounds : structure and thermal behaviour
No full textThesis (MTech (Chemistry))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016.Inclusion compounds of two hydroxyl hosts with a variety of guests have been investigated. These host compounds are bulky molecules and have the ability to interact with smaller organic guests to form new compounds. The host 9-(1-naphthyl)-9H-xanthen-9-ol (H1), forms inclusion compounds with pyridine (PYR), N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA), morpholine (MORP) and N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP). The crystal structures of H1•NMP, H1•DMA and H1•MORP1 were successfully solved in the triclinic space group PĪ, whereas the inclusion compound H1•PYR crystallised in the monoclinic space group P21/c. A different inclusion compound involving morpholine, H1•MORP2 resulted from dissolution of H1 in a 1:1 molar ratio of MORP: DMA. H1•MORP2 crystallised in the space group PĪ. All of the abovementioned inclusion compounds demonstrated a host: guest ratio of 1:1 except for H1•MORP1 (host: guest ratio = 1: ). H1 interacts with pyridine and morpholine guests via (Host)O-H•••N(Guest) hydrogen bonds and via (Host)OH•••O(Guest) hydrogen bonds with N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone and N,N-dimethylacetamide
The role of analytics in management decision making within an organisation in the Western Cape, South Africa
No full textThesis (MTech (Business Administration))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016.This mixed methods study examined specific influences on low usage of analytics among level 4 managers in a selected public sector organisation, based on SAP Business Intelligence (SAP BI) log on statistics collected between July 2012 and June 2016. Analytics provides an organisation the ability to enable its management team to make decisions based on facts, rather than assumption. The aim of this interpretivist research, grounded in a subjectivist epistemological position, was to gain an in-depth understanding of the manager’s environment and how it influences the usage and adoption of analytics in strategic decision making. Human beings change all the time and the environment in which they find themselves constantly influences them. The main research question was: what specific factors inhibit managers’ use of analytics in organisations? A case study approach was deemed the most appropriate for this kind of study because specific environmental factors influence analytics usage. Themes identified as possible factors influencing different dimensions included: individual characteristics, business intelligence systems quality, organisational factors, macro-environment factors, behavioural beliefs and attitudes, effort perceptions, social influence, facilitating conditions and other. For the qualitative component, eight level 4 public sector managers within the selected organisation were interviewed in order to experience the work environment and their interactions with colleagues, while an electronic survey questionnaire yielded data from 211 level 4 managers. The rationale for selecting this category of managers was that they not only manage staff, but also control a budget, and would find it useful to utilise analytics to aid the decision making process. Qualitative and quantitative data analysis methods were used to analyse the data. Dominant themes that emerged from interviews with eight level 4 managers were: organisational factors and system quality characteristics. Daily log on statistics collected from the electronic survey questionnaire yielded quantitative results on usage of analytics within the organisation. Overall, it was found that managers’ use of analytics is low. Given the importance of analytics for informed decision-making, recommendations are made to increase usage
Validation of a recently proposed equation for the estimation of small, dense LDL particles from routine lipid measures in a population of mixed ancestry South Africans
No full textThesis (MSc (Biomedical Technology))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2016.Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of global mortality, of which over 75% occurred in low- and middle-income countries such as South Africa. The lipid profile, specifically decreased levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), elevated triglyceride levels and the presence of small-dense low density lipoprotein (sdLDL) has been reported associated with CVD. An increased number of sdLDL is also common in metabolic syndrome (MetS), visceral obesity and diabetes mellitus, the last a known risk factor for CVD. The modification of low density lipoprotein (LDL) size, or number of sdLDL particles, has been reported to significantly reduce CVD risk, but not conclusively so and needs further investigation. In this regard, sdLDL particles are seldom estimated routinely for clinical use because of financial and other limitations. Currently, an alternative approach for estimating sdLDL is to use equations derived from routine lipid measures, as has been proposed by several groups. However, there is a need for extensive evaluation of this equation across different ethnic and disease groups, especially since reports showed an inadequate performance of the equation in a Korean population. The aim of this study was to assess the performance of a recently proposed equation for the estimation of sdLDL in healthy and diabetic mixed ancestry South Africans. Furthermore, we also investigated the role of sdLDL as a cardiometabolic risk factor, as measured against known risk factors such as the glycemic and lipid profiles