OpenUCT :: Browsing by Author "Dutkiewicz, Ryszard Karol"

Browsing by Author "Dutkiewicz, Ryszard Karol"

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Open Access
Air pollution modelling for the greater Cape Town region
(1994) Dracoulides, Demosthenes Anastasios; Dutkiewicz, Ryszard Karol
Limited research on dispersion modelling for the Cape Town metropolitan area has been undertaken. This thesis deals with air-pollution aspects in relation to dispersion modelling, as well as with the input requirements and application of a dispersion model in the Greater Cape Town region. An EPA approved Gaussian plume model, the Industrial Source Complex Short Term 2 (ISCST2), was chosen for the pollution simulation. The model requires one point meteorological measurements and can accommodate multiple point, line and area sources. Meteorological data used in the study were collected from D. F. Malan airport for the years 1991 and 1992. However, required parameters, such as the mixing height and the atmospheric stability class, are not readily available and thus needed to be calculated. Three methods for determining the mixing heights and three methods for determining atmospheric stability class were used in the model and the accuracy for each combination was assessed. Appropriate emission information for use with dispersion modelling is not available for the Greater Cape Town area. Therefore, the compilation of an emission inventory formed a considerable part of this study. Emission data from the large industries was collected with the collaboration of the Cape Town City Council's Air Pollution Control and of the Air Pollution Group of the Western Cape Regional Services Council. The rest of the sources (i.e. residential, vehicular and industrial), were grouped into areas, and their emissions were based on their fuel consumption.
Open Access
An energy supply and demand model for South Africa
(1981) Silberberg, R B; Dutkiewicz, Ryszard Karol; Bennett, Kevin
Open Access
Application of photovoltaic solar energy to medium-scale installations
(2001) Bezuidenhout, Sandra; Dutkiewicz, Ryszard Karol; Bennett, Kevin
Although South Africa has significant energy reserves, some 50-60% of the South African population is without access to electricity. Lack of infrastructure is one of the root courses of which energy supply forms an important component. The energy sector is an integral part of the whole economy, and energy planning requires analysis of the links between the energy sector and the national economy. Local economy can be developed, if energy provision and supporting services are made available to rural areas. South Africa has, so far, developed and implemented energy activities without a solid base in energy policy and macro-economic planning. This has resulted in the situation where energy planning has taken place on a sectoral basis without much regard for socio-economic development objectives or inter-energy considerations.
Open Access
Coal demand for electricity generation in South Africa : analysis and conditional forecasts to the year 2020
(1987) Pouris, Anastassios; Dutkiewicz, Ryszard Karol
The purpose of this thesis is to provide an analytical framework for the examination of the demand for coal for the generation of electricity where more than 50 of the coal produced in the country is consumed. More specifically, the aim of the thesis is to identify the factors influencing the demand for steam-coal, disentangle their interrelationships, and evaluate their relative influence and importance.
Open Access
A decision making tool for assessing grid electrification versus stand-alone power supply options for remote users
(1989) Borchers, Mark Louis; Dutkiewicz, Ryszard Karol
The objective of this study is to compile a micro-computer based tool to aid in the evaluation of power supply options for remote sites. The options considered are stand-alone photovoltaic, diesel generation, and grid extension power supplies. The basis on which the various options are compared is the unit cost of energy expected from the system. This is determined by combining all capital costs, running costs, and other payments on a present value basis over the project lifetime. The comparison of the unit energy cost expected from each option is only meaningful if the reliability of each supply system is known. The Loss of Energy Probability of each option is therefore established to provide a common ground on which to compare these costs. •
Open Access
The effect of altitude on the performance of a spark ignition engine using an alcohol-blended fuel
(1996) Wong, Ching Tai; Dutkiewicz, Ryszard Karol
It is known that altitude influences both the performance and octane requirement of automotive engines. With the peculiar elevated geography in South Africa, there has been concern of the effects of altitude on automotive engines, when driving between the coast and the Highveld. This thesis describes an experimental investigation into the effects of altitude on a locally mass-produced spark ignition engine, operating under three different carburation settings. Tests have been performed in an altitude simulation dynamometer test cell. Comparative assessments are made of the effects of altitude on fuel economy, exhaust CO emission and engine knock response in terms of knock-limited spark advance with- a straight gasoline and a 10% ethanol blend. It has been shown that the extent of the altitude effects on fuel economy and exhaust co emission strongly depends on the operating carburation set points.
Open Access
The effect of sulphur in fuel on the performance of automotive catalysts
(1994) Siemelink, Johannes Jacobus; Dutkiewicz, Ryszard Karol
Catalysts have been used on cars since 1974 to reduce tailpipe emission levels of carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen. Initially, oxidation catalysts were used that operated under very lean air/fuel conditions and gave rise to increased sulphate particulate emissions. These sulphate emissions could fortunately be reduced by better air/fuel control. However, the introduction of more active catalyst compositions, in particular the use of cerium oxide components on the wash coat, led to bad odour complaints from motorists. In the report it is shown that under fuel-lean conditions, sulphur, originating from the fuel, is stored as aluminium and cerium sulphates onto the washcoat. Upon a rapid change to fuel-rich engine operation the stored sulphates are released as hydrogen sulphide and is the cause for the smell observed. The sulphur storage/release process results in hydrogen sulphide emissions many times higher than is possible from steady-state conversion from the fuel sulphur level. By using a catalyst/engine combination on a testbed the experiments have shown that the hydrogen sulphide release is a kinetically limited reaction and, apart from the air/fuel control, depends mainly on the catalyst temperature.
Open Access
Emissions and efficiencies of domestic appliances burning various fuels in South Africa
(1998) Graham, James Alexander Norman; Dutkiewicz, Ryszard Karol
Assessments of pollution from domestic fuel burning in South Africa have, in the main, based their conclusions on measured ambient pollutant concentrations. This approach does not allow for direct comparison of emissions from different domestic fuel burning appliances. Pollution from domestic fuel burning depends both on appliance efficiency, since a more efficient appliance· will burn less fuel, and appliance emission rates. A test cell was designed and built to measure efficiencies and emissions of various fuel/appliance combinations during cooking and space heating tests representative of field operating conditions. A range of fuels, liquid petroleum gas (LPG), paraffin, coal and wood were burnt in domestic appliances commonly used in South Africa. Emissions of gaseous pollutants, C02 , CO, NOx and HC, and particulate pollutants, total suspended particulates (TSP) and particles less than 2.Sμrn aerodynamic diameter, were measured.
Open Access
Energy efficiency in the South African clay brick industry
(1996) Hibberd, Andrew Charles Michael; Dutkiewicz, Ryszard Karol
This report presents the results of an energy study carried out on the clay brick industry of South Africa. The clay brick industry consumed approximately 38 PJ of energy in 1995, about 5% of manufacturing energy consumptions and had an energy intensity five times the average for the manufacturing sector. This combined with the uniform nature of the output and the fragmented nature of the industry made the clay brick industry an appropriate choice for the energy study.
Open Access
Energy in Central Africa : with special reference to Zaire
(1993) Bisengo, Kumbu; Dutkiewicz, Ryszard Karol
In this thesis, the energy sector of the Central Africa region is investigated with a special attention to Zaire. The region's political trends, economic performance, demographic and social patterns as well as their implications in the development of the energy sector are presented. For each country of the region the resource potential and the ability to produce, distribute and use these energy resources, are analyzed. The potential for the development of energy resources of the region is examined and its future energy demand forecast. The scope for energy interchange inside and outside the region is analyzed and regional integration in the energy sector discussed. The findings of this thesis are: * there is an abundance of energy resources though not evenly distributed throughout the region, * there is a heavy reliance on woodfuel, and * there are many problems constraining the development of the energy sector. The principal issues facing the energy sector are: *the shortage of woodfuel due to the non-sustainability of supply, *the low reliability of power supply and the existence of surplus capacity in some countries, *the high supply cost of petroleum products, *the limited size of the local commercial fuel market and the lack of finance to develop domestic energy resources, *the low level of management and financial autonomy for energy utilities, *the lack of energy trade because of political instability, and institutional shortcomings. Forecasts of future energy consumption in the region indicate that woodfuel will continue to be the dominant energy form, followed by oil and electricity, and that electricity will play an increasing role. Recommendations for the woodfuel subsector relates to improving the production and utilization efficiency - valid also for the other energy carriers, increasing the supply through reforestation programmes and accelerating electrification. Other recommendations to improve the development of the energy sector include: * recovering energy supply cost through adequate pricing and improved collection practices, * reducing government interference and introducing private participation in the energy sector with the subsequent benefit of the transfer of new technology and managerial competence, and * strengthening energy institutions to enable them to improve planning, implementations, operations, and ensure the integration of traditional and commercial energy structures . The possibilities of energy interchange are large for oil and electricity, and energy trade could improve energy utilization, lower supply costs, etc. Under prevailing socio-economic conditions, regional integration is thought to be the only realistic strategy leading to the economic exploitation of energy resources and the adequate supply of energy to support industrial development of the region and to meet the social needs of its people. In this connection, major efforts should be directed towards the establishment of appropriate regional energy institutions, but political stability is a prerequisite to any effective energy integration.
Open Access
Energy in east and southern Africa : with special reference to South Africa
(1992) Gielink, Michael Ian; Dutkiewicz, Ryszard Karol
In this thesis the energy sector of the East and Southern Africa Region (as defined by the World Energy Council) is investigated. Special attention is given to South Africa and the potential future role she could play in the region. The region is characterized by large population growth rates, insufficient economic growth, political and civil instability, massive urbanization, high illiteracy rates, a low level of development, a lack of finance and foreign exchange, and inadequate institutional structures, all of which effect the energy sector making the provision of a sustainable and adequate supply of energy difficult. On the other hand, South Africa, the economic giant of the region, has a sophisticated and well established energy infrastructure and•has the potential to play a large role in the energy sector of the region. A large portion of the region's energy demand is supplied by traditional energy sources and is consumed by the domestic sector. In many countries of the region, energy demand exceeds sustainable supply, resulting in energy scarcities and increased deforestation. These issues need to be addressed as a priority. Reforestation based on agro- forestry, was identified as the option most likely to succeed in this regard. Although commercial energy resources are abundant within the region, they are largely unexploited as a result of the lack of suitably large markets, vast distances, a lack of finance and regional instability. The promotion of the utilization of these resources, which would ease supply constraints, is reliant on regional cooperation and the trade in energy. Forecasts of future energy consumption in the region indicate that unless present constraints on the energy sector are alleviated, the adequate supply of energy, and in particular traditional energy, will be jeopardized. It is proposed that any long-term cost-effective solution for the provision of an adequate and sustainable supply of energy requires regional political stability and cooperation, institutional reform, the integration of traditional and commercial energy structures, and should address the issues of deforestation and population growth.
Open Access
Energy management in industry : a case study on the brewing industry
(1992) De Villiers, Mark Graham; Dutkiewicz, Ryszard Karol; Fraser, Duncan McKenzie
The industrial sector is the main energy user in South Africa, using about half the national total, and compared to most other industrialised countries South Africa has a high in_dustrial energy intensity, thus necessitating improved industrial energy management. The malt brewing industry was chosen as a case study industry to illustrate the potential for improved energy management in industry. Ohlsson's brewery in Cape Town was analysed in detail and energy management improvements identified for that brewery were ·expanded to include the malt brewing industry in general, by comparing Ohlsson's brewery to other breweries in South Africa. It was found that energy requirements at Ohlsson's Brewery could be reduced by 12-20%, by the implementation of economically feasible energy management schemes. However, mainly because of discrepancies in coal prices between Ohlsson's Brewery and most other breweries in South Africa, energy requirements for the brewing industry in general can be reduced by 7-13%. This translates to be a monetary saving of R242 000-R486 000/month, which is evenly spread between coal, electricity, and maximum demand savings. No single large energy saving scheme was identified, but the potential. savings are due to a number of schemes. The potential energy savings identified in this study exclude the savings as a result of the implementation of process sensitive schemes, which were considered beyond the scope of this study. Nevertheless some process sensitive schemes, associated with boiling in the brewhouse, could result in substantial savings. The energy usage target identified for South African breweries is higher than current energy requiiements for breweries in the Britain and Germany when climatic and operational constraints are taken into account. This is because Britain and Germany have higher energy costs relative to production costs, government incentive schemes for reducing energy usage, and more stringent environmental legislation often necessitating the recovery of brewhouse vapours.
Open Access
An energy supply and demand model for South Africa
(1981) Silberberg, Roger Barry; Dutkiewicz, Ryszard Karol; Bennett, Kevin
The topic of this thesis is the development of a model of energy supply and demand in South Africa to project energy flows up to the year 2005 and also to assess the implications of policy actions. South Africa in the 1980's will be faced by a complex energy planning problem. Politically, socially and economically the country is in a process of significant change, resulting in rapidly increasing overall energy requirements and more selective demand for specific types and grades of energy carrier. Relatively large deposits of coal and uranium exist - providing opportunities for earning foreign exchange now coupled, unfortunately, with the depletion of those resources in the future. Many questions relating to energy, and vital to South Africa, must be resolved in the next few years, particularly concerning the following: - level of coal and uranium exports; - level of energy independence; - domestic synthetic fuels programme; - energy conservation policies; - alternative technology implementation. Energy planning in the past has been inadequate because of its segregated approach in treating each energy carrier, its lack of economic and technological inputs and its inability to highlight sensitive and crucial aspects of the energy sector in the economy.
Open Access
Energy utilisation in selected industrial sectors in South Africa
(1986) Huggett, Anthony Court; Dutkiewicz, Ryszard Karol
This thesis presents tha findings of an investigation into the use of energy, between the years 1975 and 1984, in five of the major energy-intensive industries in South Africa. Energy use in all economic sectors, from 1964 to 1974, was surveyed in the report "Energy Utilisation in South Africa", published by the Department of Planning and the Environment in 1978. As this report showed the major primary industries to be the largest single users of energy in South Africa, it was decided to isolate a number of major energy-intensive industries for investigation in this study. The 1979 Census of Manufacturing showed five industrial sectors to have consumed 41% by value of the total industrial energy consumption in that year, and it is those with which this thesis is concerned. The five industries are: The Structural Clay Products Industry, The Portland Cement Industry, The Glass Making Industry, The Iron and Steel Industry, The Pulp and Paper Industry.
Open Access
Energy utilisation in South Africa.
(1977) Bennett, Kevin Frank; Dutkiewicz, Ryszard Karol
The purpose of this study is to provide the Department of Planning and the Environment with the following information: 1) The quantities and forms of input and useful energy used by different sectors of the South African economy. (The terms input energy and useful energy are defined in section 1.2 of this chapter). 2) The efficiency of conversion of input energy to useful energy. 3) Current and expected trends in energy utilization within individual sectors of the economy.The two year contract to carry out this study was awarded to the Energy Research Institute at the University of Cape Town. The work was undertaken by one engineer assisted by a graduate engineer, supported by secretarial staff and supervised by a professor of the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
Open Access
Energy utilization in the domestic sectors.
(1979) Stone, Andrew John; Dutkiewicz, Ryszard Karol; Bennett, Kevin Frank
In South Africa the domestic sector is an important energy user. Information is available on how much energy is supplied to this sector but little is known about how this energy is utilized. The purpose of this thesis is to try and gather information on this area of domestic energy utilization. As the domestic sector is made up of a large number of mall users a selected sample of the users is needed to provide information which is representative of the sector as a whole. A postal survey was used to gather information from a representative sector of the White community. This method was unsuitable for the Black sector but information on Black household energy usage was obtained from a Department of Health report. With the use of a postal survey of a sample group to estimate results for the sector as a whole, inaccurate results will occur unless the sample is truly representative of the sector. To ensure this, independent figures for the income per household and the number of urban and rural households were obtained and the sample results weighted accordingly.
Open Access
The environmental effects of air pollution from the energy sector in South Africa
(1992) Gerson, R; Eberhard, Anton; Dutkiewicz, Ryszard Karol
The literature and data describing the environmental effects of air pollution in South Africa were examined, with a focus on the effects that are produced by the use of energy. This examination consisted of three parts: The emissions resulting from the use of the different fuels were calculated, with a complete sectorial and regional breakdown for pollution sources. A review of the data obtained from pollution monitoring programmes conducted in South Africa was completed. It was found that while monitoring is conducted in various regions and urban districts, there are areas with recognised pollution problems, such as townships, where little or no monitoring has been conducted. Often the resulfs of monitoring programmes were not published, or only available in unprocessed form. The literature describing environmental effects related to air pollution was reviewed. The number of studies pertaining to South African environments was found to be limited and tended to focus on certain areas, while neglecting others. Areas requiring further study and research were identified.
Open Access
An estimation of the performance of spark ignition methanol engines
(1981) Yates, Andrew David Bennett; Dutkiewicz, Ryszard Karol; Bennett, Kevin Frank
The possibility of using methanol as an alternative fuel for petrol and diesel engines has been investigated at the University of Cape Town in recent years by the Energy Research Institute. Engines, taken from existing road vehicles, were converted to methanol operation and evaluated. During the planning phase of each conversion, it was apparent that there was a need for a method of estimating the probable performance of the converted engine. The objective of this thesis was therefore to develop a generally applicable formula for predicting the rated performance of a methanol-fuelled, spark-ignition engine given only the bore, stroke, number of cylinders and maximum rated engine speed. The prediction was based on an estimate of the indicated efficiency, the volumetric efficiency and the frictional losses of a methanol engine, from which the shaft power and overall efficiency could be determined. The performance of three engines, which were converted to methanol operation, was used to test the theory. The conversions were each of a very different nature: - a) An automotive petrol engine of which only the carburettor was modified. b) An automotive petrol engine that was modified to take advantage of the properties of methanol to improve the performance. c) A truck diesel engine that was converted to spark ignition for operation on methanol. The predicted results were found to compare favourably with the experimental results, with the exception of one spurious reading. An analysis of the range of error in the theoretical estimate was used as the basis for comparison: Range of error in predicted overall efficiency ± 6%. Range of error in predicted shaft power ± 10%. The work of this thesis would be applicable in situations where a quick answer was required and few details were available. With the aid of a programmable calculator, the anticipated performance map could be obtained in a few minutes.
Open Access
Funding on energy research and development in South Africa
(1981) Dutkiewicz, Ryszard Karol
An analysis is made of the funding on energy research and development in South Africa and is compared with the funding of seventeen countries making up the International Energy Agency. The survey is incomplete because of the lack of adequate accounting methods in certain organisations supplying statistics which did not allow for a sub-division into energy and other funding. It is also incomplete because certain organisations were unwilling to give information because of fear of contravening the Petroleum Act. An analysis of research funding by private industry, and especially by overseas controlled companies, has shown that very little is done in this country, most companies preferring to rely on research carried out by their parent companies overseas. Sufficient information was obtained to show that with the exception of funding for nuclear power South Africa's research effort is below that of most countries of the IEA. This is especially true of funding on coal research where South Africa should, in terms of its position as a major coal exporting country, and because of its heavy reliance on domestic coal consumption, be one of the world's leaders in coal research. However, only Italy, of the 17 IEA countries, spends less on coal research in terms of funding per ton of coal mined. In the field of research into renewable energy forms South Africa is far behind any of the other countries considered.
Open Access
A novel method to determine a national diesel emissions inventory
(2002) Stone, Adrian Conrad; Dutkiewicz, Ryszard Karol
A body of data estimating the exhaust emissions from diesel commercial vehicle engines typical of the South African vehicle population was measured in an experimental programme. The core of this work was part of the recent South African Vehicle Emissions Project (VEP), a national programme commissioned by the Department of Minerals and Energy that was completed at the end of 1998. The engine sample for the tests was made up entirely of engines manufactured by Atlantis Diesel Engines (ADE) under licence from Daimler Chrysler (formerly Mercedes Benz). The ADE assembly line closed in 1999 and so this data is becoming less relevant as these engines become less prevalent. The age of the South African vehicle population (12 years average age for heavy commercial vehicles) does, however, preclude rapid change of the model composition and so analysis using the VEP data will be useful for some time to come. This VEP data was supplemented by studies commissioned by Mossgas and BPSouthern Africa and input to a so-called "emissions inventory" model. This is simply a calculation of the total emissions produced by the vehicle park over a fixed period, usually a year, and takes no account of the dispersion of the pollutants into the atmosphere. The principle of this simple approach is that if an inventory model is sensitive to technology, fuel and population drivers, policy and growth scenarios can be simulated easily and their effects on total emissions quantified with reasonable assurance of accuracy. Given that the objective of policymaking is to decide on optimal and cost-effective actions, and not to predict to an exact degree the outcome of these actions, it may be argued that such an approach is sufficient to prioritise available emissions reduction strategies. A total of 14 scenarios were modelled and compared to a baseline of emissions from South African diesel commercial vehicles. These included the increased market penetration of technologies like turbocharging and intercooling, the reduction of diesel fuel sulphur levels, the compliance of the vehicle population to various tiers of European legislation and the conversion of the vehicle population to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-fuelled operation.