Browsing Doctoral Degrees (Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering) by Title
Now showing items 1-20 of 72
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Air-cooled condenser steam flow distribution and related dephlegmator design considerations
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2013-12)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The steam-side side operation of a practical air-cooled steam condenser is investigated using a combination of CFD, numerical, analytical and experimental methods. Particular attention is directed towards ... -
Air-cooled heat exchangers and cooling towers : thermal-flow performance evaluation and design
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2004-12)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: During the last 30 years I have been involved in the theory and practice of thermal engineering and in particular, in the areas of air-cooled heat exchangers and cooling towers for the power, refrigeration, ... -
Anti-Malarial Polymer-Peptide Conjugates
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2014-12)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The primary aim of this study was to investigate an amphiphilic polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)-based drug delivery system for the treatment of the Plasmodium falciparum strain of malaria, using a known ... -
Application of a perforated shadow band to the decomposition of global solar irradiance
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2015-12)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The earth’s atmosphere causes pronounced spatial and temporal variability in downwelling solar radiation at the planet’s surface. Since the characterisation of sun strength is important in solar resource ... -
An artificial intelligence approach for biomass devolatilisation in an industrial CFD model with advanced turbulence-chemistry interaction
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2018-03)ENGLISH SUMMARY: The ground work to include more detailed chemistry than global approaches in a combustion simulation was completed. A reduced-order model of the Biomass Chemical Percolation Devolatilisation model, ... -
Aspects of distributed conceptual design support
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2002-04)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The findings of an investigation into the requirements of a support system for distributed conceptual design in small and medium enterprises are presented. Distributed conceptual design refers to the ... -
Characteristics of gas-liquid counterflow in inclined ducts with particular reference to reflux condensers
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 1997-12)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: An experimental investigation on gas-liquid counterflow in inclined rectangular ducts is conducted. The pressure drop across the sharp-edged gas inlet and the pressure gradient inside the duct are ... -
A critical evaluation and refinement of the performance prediction of wet-cooling towers
(Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2003-12)The thermal performance prediction of wet-cooling towers is critically analyzed and refined. Natural draft counterflow towers and mechanical draft counterflow and crossflow towers are considered. The Merkel, Poppe and ... -
Design analysis of a lomolding machine
(Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2007-12)This dissertation describes the design analysis of a lomolder (a machine similar to an injection moulding machine). It focuses on key design aspects that will drive the purchase cost of the machine and that will also ... -
Design and development of a novel wave energy converter
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2013-12)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The design, development and evaluation of a novel wave energy converter (WEC) device, called the ShoreSWEC, in a South African port development is presented. Based on the device requirements, site ... -
Design and optimization of hydrofoil-assisted catamarans
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2002-03)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This work is concerned with the hydrodynamic design of hydrofoil-assisted catamarans. Focus is placed on the development of new and suitable design methods and application of these to identify the most ... -
The design, kinematics and error modelling of a novel micro-CMM parallel manipulator
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2014-04)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The research presented in this dissertation establishes a micro-CMM parallel manipulator as a viable positioning device for three degree of freedom micro measurement applications. The machine offers the ... -
The development and evaluation of an Erlang control system for reconfigurable manufacturing systems
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2018-03)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The dynamic and highly competitive nature of the modern manufacturing environment has introduced a new set of challenges, urging researchers and industry to formulate new and innovative solutions. The ... -
Development of a dual-pressure air receiver system for the SUNDISC cycle
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2017-03)ENGLISH SUMMARY: Combined cycle CSP plants with solarized gas turbines have the potential to generate dispatchable electricity at a high efficiency and with the option to integrate cost-effective rock bed thermal energy ... -
Development of a patient-specific unicompartmental knee replacement
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2018-03)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Patient-specific Unicompartmental Knee Replacements (UKRs) could potentially restore an Osteoarthritic (OA) knee closer to its pre-pathological state than off-the-shelf products. Nevertheless, the current ... -
Development of a robust myoelectric control architecture for lower limb robotic prostheses applications.
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2018-12)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Traumatic events such as accidents or vascular and circulatory disorders often lead to amputation of the lower limb. To increase mobility most amputees are tted with a passive prosthetics. However, the ... -
Development of patient-specific knee joint prostheses for unicompartmental knee replacement (UKR)
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2011-12)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The knee is the largest, most complicated and incongruent joint in the human body. It sustains very high forces and is susceptible to injury and disease. Osteoarthritis is a common disease prevalent ... -
A direct approach to structural topology optimization
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2017-03)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This dissertation addresses various topics that emerge from the unification of conventional structural optimization—based on ‘sequential approximate optimization’ (SAO)—with the alternative ‘direct’—or ... -
Dual sequential approximation methods in structural optimisation
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2012-03)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This dissertation addresses a number of topics that arise from the use of a dual method of sequential approximate optimisation (SAO) to solve structural optimisation problems. Said approach is widely ... -
Early detection of risk of autism spectrum disorder based on recurrence quantification analysis of electroencephalographic signals
(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2016-03)ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Background: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) with a prevalence of 1–2%. In low resource environments, in particular, early identification and diagnosis is a significant ...
