Centre for Distributed Power and Electronic Systems (CDPES)

Prof Mohamed Toriq Kahn

CDPES research areas include energy efficiency, renewable and alternative energy technology, distributed energy system technology, predictive control of power converters and electrical drives, and MEMS energy sensor technology.

Through its research, the centre aims to:

• Develop power conversions for renewable energy sources and investigate interconnectivity of distributed resources with microgrids and electric power systems

• Apply such technology over multidisciplinary applications, especially those pertaining to commercial and industrial applications

• Investigate and apply optical fiber and wireless communication techniques over large-scale power systems, for telemetry and control

• Improve control schemes for power converters and drives

• Study nuclear energy, environmental protection and sustainable development

The introduction of electrical energy management into industrial sectors is an effective method of minimising energy consumed by industry; it also improves the reliability of the power system. CDPES strives to find ways to improve this relationship, using networked sensor technology, ubiquitous computing, ambient intelligence, and associated electronic communication systems developments. Power electronics and drives are used in diverse sectors, ranging from industrial to residential applications.

The CDPES team members are Prof Tariq Kahn (leader), Dr Marco Adonis, Dr Atanda Raji, Dr Wilfred Fritz, Mr Deon Kallis, Mr Ali Almaktoof, Mr Achmat Fish, Mr Christopher Wills and Mr Onwunta Onwunta.

Highlights for 2014

Postgraduate research projects include:

• Energy utilisation of integrated solar PV and thermal module with storage device

• Multilevel converters using finite state-model predictive current control for renewable energy systems applications

• Comparative strategies for efficient control and storage of renewable energy in a micro grid

• Design and development of a 300kW solar PV and wind renewable energy microgrid island

• Applications of solar air conditioning assisted systems in Sub-Saharan Africa for residential buildings

• Development of robust grid synchronisation algorithm for power electronics interfaced microgrid system

• Fault ride-through capability of multipole permanent magnet synchronous generator for wind energy conversion system

TIa projects include:

• AI9 Smartmeter: The AI9 development is an advanced energy-saving/metering solution in the space of commercial and industrial buildings/ business parks which consume approximately

40% of the world’s energy. The AI9 Smart Metering system captures all energy-relevant power consumption information from a client’s building/ complex, by using several miniaturised kWh MOTES that can be seamlessly installed in existing building reticulation without major circuit interruption.

• Waste plastic gasifier: Plastic waste provides a valuable energy resource. The high energy content of the plastic can be extracted using our infrared radiation-based reactor. Through a gasification process, syngas fuel is produced. This can be fed to generators to produce electricity. This process provides a means of energy storage and can be converted later when energy is required.

• Automated solar powered stove: Dr Wilfred Fritz, Deon Kallis and a group of five Electrical Engineering students designed and commissioned an innovative standalone automated solar oven, combined with a solar-powered generator. The artifact is able to operate off-grid and can be used to boil water, cook food and also generate electricity.

Postgraduate degrees were conferred to:

• M Giraneza, AJ Kamanzi, H Zuhair and C Stephen (MTech)

• RD Nell (DTech)

CPuT establishes quantum physics research group

Building computers from atoms may sound far-fetched, but this is on the cards for rTI at CPUT. Physicist Dr Kessie Govender plans to make sure the institution becomes involved internationally in the development of this new technology. He set up a team of researchers in 2014 to research and develop basic components that can be used in quantum computing and quantum information processing. Quantum computers will increase computational power beyond that which is attainable by traditional computers.

Dr Govender’s interest in this area of research began whilst lecturing Physics at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, and he continues to work with quantum researchers there. He later moved to the South african National Space agency’s (SaNSa) Directorate in Hermanus, where he was involved in the technical developmental aspects of ZaCUBe-1.

Dr Govender said to conduct this type of research one needs a team of people who have a good knowledge of physics. To grow this area of research, engineering curricula at universities should be reviewed to incorporate more physics. “Physics opens the door to curiosity and it allows you to branch into a number of other areas.”