Research Publications (Engineering and Built Environment)
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://ir-dev.dut.ac.za/handle/10321/215
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Item The prospect of floating photovoltaic in clean energy provision and net-zero-emissions(Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2024) Ebhota, Williams S.; Tabakov, Pavel Y.This study emphasizes the critical role of renewable energy in addressing climate change challenges, particularly in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. It highlights the central importance of solar photovoltaic systems. While recognizing South Africa’s progress in renewable energy deployment, the study notes that substantial efforts are still needed to meet the country’s renewable energy targets. The study’s primary aim is to enhance the understanding and deployment of solar photovoltaic systems by critically examining the photovoltaic potential and performance of different sites. To achieve this, two scenarios—land photovoltaic and floating photovoltaic systems—were considered, focusing on hypothetical 10 MWp-installed capacity systems. The results indicate that the 10-MWp land photovoltaic system has a global tilted irradiance of 2184.7 kWh/m2, an annual total output of 18 GWh, and an average yearly performance ratio of 81%. The economic parameters for the land photovoltaic system include a capital expenditure of $9.0 million, an operational expenditure of $157,500 annually, and a levelised cost of energy of $0.04089/kWh. In contrast, the 10-MWp floating photovoltaic system reports a Global Tilted Irradiance of 1797 kWh/m2, an annual total output of 16 GWh, and a performance ratio of 76%. The economic parameters for the floating photovoltaic system include a capital expenditure of $10.6 million, an operational expenditure of $176,250 annually, and a levelised cost of energy of $0.04936/kWh. Both scenarios’ econo-technical parameters fall within acceptable ranges. However, the land photovoltaic system shows better performance, indicating some efficiency loss in the floating photovoltaic system possibly due to harsher offshore conditions. Based on the data from the reports, the study concludes that the econo-technical feasibility of floating photovoltaic in the Western Cape Province of South Africa is high.Item Deploying built-in quality to reduce scrap in an automotive component manufacturer(SAIIE, 2024-05-31) Dewa, Mendon; Makua, EdwardAutomotive component manufacturers face global competitive challenges, and the paradigm has shifted from product price as the determining factor of competitiveness to the quality of the product. An automotive component manufacturer was struggling to manage the outflow of defects, and adding inspectors as quality gates to the rear-step bumper production line had severe cost implications. This study aimed to reduce the number of defects by deploying a strategic path of implementing built-in quality. Quality tools were used, and the study’s results included significant manpower reduction, improved quality capability, and reduced scrap rates and reworks.