Annual student symposiums
CRSES typically hosts a national symposium every year to provide masters and doctoral students across South African institutions with the opportunity to present their research. Explore past assets by year or keyword below.
The 12th symposium took place on 31 October and 01 November 2022 at the University of Pretoria
Download the 2022 symposium programme here
The 10th symposium took place on 17 and 18 July 2019 in the Knowledge Centre building of the Faculty of Engineering.
Download the 2019 symposium programme here
The 9th symposium took place on 13 and 14 September 2018 in the Knowledge Centre building of the Faculty of Engineering.
Download the 2018 symposium programme here
| Presentations |
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| M Agoro: Synthesis, characterization and spectral studies of copper, lead and tin dithiocarbamate complexes: Single source precursors for preparation of metal sulphide nanoparticles |
| D Mutukwa: A review of structural, optical and stability properties of lead-free halide double perovskites |
| L Ntozakhe: Influence of nitrogen doping on TiO2 nanoparticles synthesized by pneumatic spray pyrolysis system |
| N Zingwe Structural and morphological analysis of hydrothermally synthesized ternary palladium alloys for use as efficient catalysts in dye sensitized solar cell counter electrodes |
| N Mahlangu: Performance and degradation analysis of PV modules operating in different climatic regimes |
| S Zinya: Micro-structural evaluation of RF sputtered TNTs on functional substrates for perovskite solar cell applications |
| A Bede: Morphological and Structural characterization of nano-sized carbon supported MoS2 as platinum free counter electrodes materials for DSSC application |
| G Bekker: Numerical Investigation of pressure recovery in an induced draught air-cooled |
| D McDougall: Jet impingement parametric analysis for the SCRAP receiver concept |
| R van der Westhuizen: Modelling and Simulation of a Supercritical Carbon Dioxide (Sco2) concentrated soler power (CSP) System |
| BJG de la Bat: Derivation and simulation of a one-dimensional, compressible-flow model of a free piston Stirling engine |
| T Schommarz: Design Review and Manufacturing of a Redesigned Gas Turbine Compressor |
| T Hans: Integrating Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Brayton Cycles into Concentrating Solar Power Plants |
| J Louw: Irradiance modelling for bi-facial PC modules using the ray tracing technique |
| S Gerber: Managing peak demand and energy costs through PV and intelligent scheduling of water heaters at two schools in South Africa |
| A Chitura: Design of a flexible photovoltaic MPPT data acquisition system for analysis of MPPT process and improved data storage |
| J Nwodo: Irradiance Feedback Control System for a 5-kW Xenon Arc Lamp Solar Simulator |
| HB Marais: Effect of operating parameters on the lignin-derived phenolic compounds using batch hydrothermal liquefaction using an experimental design approach |
| K van der Merwe: MBiochar adsorbents for the removal of heavy metals and volatile organics from an industrial paper mill's waste water |
| B Anye Cho: The treatment of waste-waters in a Thermosiphon Photobioreactor using Rhodopseudomonas palustris |
| J v Wielligh: Evaluation of spend coffee ground as feedstock for continuous hydrothermal liquefaction |
| F Daniel: The design of a Hybrid Power Supply using genetic algorithm |
| C Buma: Performance of a Building Integrated Photovoltaic System installed at the Fort Hare Institute of Technology, South Africa |
| E Basson: Design and test of externally finned tube cavity receiver for Brayton cycle preheating purposes |
| D Grobbelaar: Improving the heat transfer characteristics of the Spiky Central Receiver Air Pre- heater (SCRAP) using helically swirled fins |
| M Claassen: An Investigation into the use of light diffraction for the closed-loop control of heliostats |
| R Sattele: Recommissioning of ZEBRA-System to characterize heliostat facets |
| P de Wet Taljaard: Integration of solar process heat at a South African micro-brewery: a feasibility study |
| C Shabangu: Estimation of global solar radiation in Kwazulu Natal from SAURAN station using air temperature-based models Hargreaves & Samani and Clemence models |
| CJJ Labuschagne: Permanent magnet wind generator technology for battery charging wind energy systems |
| A Ajayi-obe: Impacts of grid voltage sags on transformer-less wind energy conversion systems (WECSs) in a Wind Power Plant |
| Presentations |
The 8th symposium took place on 12 and 13 July 2017 in the Knowledge Centre building of the Faculty of Engineering.
Download the 2017 symposium programme here
The 5th RENEWABLE ENERGY POSTGRADUATE SYMPOSIUM 13–14 JULY 2015 in the Knowledge Centre building of the Faculty of Engineering.
Download the 2015 REPS programme here
The 2nd Annual STERG SolarPACES Symposium took place on the 17th of July 2014 in the Knowledge Centre building of the Faculty of Engineering.
The 2nd Annual STERG SolarPACES Symposium
Papers presented at the EPC held 12 – 14 August 2013
| Presentations |
|---|
| Ms. Mande, Livhuwani: Evaluations of six Saccharomuyces cerevisiae promot-ers during growth on xylose. |
| Mr. Nkadimeng, Lefa: Intensification of methane production at SABMiller New-lands Brewery (SABNB) anaerobic Wastewater Treatment Plant (WTP) |
| Ms. Mulaudzi, Sophie: Evaluation of the solar irradiance in the selected lo-cation in the Vhembe District of the Limpopo Province of South Africa using different theoretical models. |
| Mr. Landman, Willem: Influence of Cant- ing Mechanism and Facet Profile on Heliostat Field Performance |
| Ms. Mathevula, Langutani: Thermo-chromic nano-coatings for solar radia-tions heat regulation in small satellites |
| Mr. Apollo, Seth: Simultaneous biogas production and |
| Ms. Piyo, Nontembiso: Liquefaction of sunflower husks for biochar production |
| Mr. Bode, Sebastian-James: A novel approach to reduce ray tracing simula-tion times by reducing statistical noise |
| Mr. ZONGO, Sidiki: Gratzel dye solar cells with bixa orellana natural dye extract |
| Mr. Tshehla, Maloba: A literature analysis of barriers and policy opportu-nities for the growth of renewable energy technologies at the |
| Mr. Swiegers, Cobus: Inlet and outlet shape-optimization of natural circulation building ventilation system |
| Mr. Thomas, Nathan: Development of a range of heat pipe heat recovery heat exchangers for the drying industry |
| Mr. Kopano, Mokhalodi: Development of a universal bidirection- al galvanic isolated switch module for power converter applications |
| Mrs. Simo, Aline: VO2 nanostructures based chemiresis-tors for low power energy consumption hydro- gen sensing |
| Mr. Jeggels, Dawood: Theoretical and experimental |
| Mr. Solomon, Ramzi: Scaling Machines for Renewable Energy IPP Applications |
| Mr. Loubser, Karl: Geothermal heat recovery and utilisa- tion using heat pipes |
| Ms. Van Der Bank, Marjone: A Legal analysis on the regulation of renewable resources to promote ener-gy efficiency in sustainable building |
| Ms. Crozier, Jacqui: Photovoltaic mod-ule chariacterisation using Electrolumi-nescence |
| Mr. Allen, Kenneth: Thermal storage in packed beds: pressure drop and heat transfer characteristics |
| Mr. Kotzé, Johannes: High temperature thermal energy stor- age and heat transfer using eutectic metals in con-centrating solar power |
| Ms. Thabezhe, Nokwethemba: Ther-modynamic stability of VO2 in contact with thin metal films |
| Ms. Thoresen, Mariska: An investiga-tion into the synergistic action of exo-type and endo- type cellulases on the hydrolysis of complex substrates |
| Mr. Deetlefs, Ivan: Building of a free piston Stirling demon- strator engine |
| Mrs. Nuru, Zebib Yenus: Pt-Al2O3 ce-ramic nano-compos-ites for high tem-perature solar absorbers applications |
| Mr. Mhlongo, Sizwe: Impact of inhibi-tors associated with ligno-cellulose hydrolysateson the expression level and activity of recom-binant cellulolytic enzymes |
| Mr. Thema, Force Tefo: Chemical syn-thesis of graphene for dye solar cells electrodes |
| Mr. Owen, Michael: A hybrid dephlegma- tor for incorporation into an air-cooled steam condenser. |
| Mr. Meyer, Rohan: Design, optimisa-tion and construction of a solar re-flecter dish. |
| Mr. Prinsloo, Gerro: Design & construc- tion of a self-tracking solar concentra-tor for power generation in rural Africa |
| Mr. Du Preez, Jacques: Theoretical modelling and experimental verifica-tion of a passive downdraught eve-porative cooling tower. |
| Ms. Philander, Ghouwaa: Thermo-chromic doped vanadium dioxide coat-ings for smart windows |
| Mr. Tadadjeu Sokeng, Ifriky: Nano-satellites as energy efficiency facilita-tors in Africa |
| Ms. Fourie, Marna: Design of a subcrit-ical and transcritical car- bon dioxide refrigera- tion system |
| Mr. Manabile, Segaula Isaac: Produc-tion of na- nofibers for techno- logical application by electrospinning of poly-mer-graphene solution. |
| Mr. Barnard, Francois: Hybrid position sensorless control of a RSM in the en-tire speed range. |
| Mr. Stander, Johan: Split permanent magnet wind turbine generator topol-ogy comparison using optimisation |
| Mr. Craig, Rob: Thermodynamically driven gravity assisted water pump based on novelty dipping bird |
| Mr. Ndlangaman- Dla, Cebo: Synthesis of hematite nanorods for the study of its optical properties for the possible use in hydrogen production. |
| Ms. Meyer, Imke: Resource Assess-ment of the Agulhas Current to deter-mine Feasibility for Marine Energy Ex-traction. |
| Mr. Lilla, Daleel: Comparison of Differ-ential Evolution and Genetic Algo- rithm in the design of permanent mag-net Generators. |
| Ms. Herbst, Lynette: The effect of cli-mate change on wind resources in South Africa. |
| Mr.Sekoai, Patrick Thabang: Potential of using Organic Fraction of Solid Mu-nicipal Waste (OFSMW) for biohydro-gen production in South Africa. |
| Mr. Ozemoya, Augustine: Factors in-fluenc- ing the conversion efficiency of a PV module. |
| Mr. Adams, Abdulghaaliq: Low tem-perature deposition of silicon nitride thin films by hot-wire CVD. |
| Mr. Silinga, Cebo: Scenarios for a South African peaking CSP system in the short term. |
| Ms. Sibanda, Ntsako: Evaluating yeast hybridization to improve hydrolytic enzyme secretion for second genera-tion bio-fuel production. |
| Ms. Nefdt, Taryn: The evaluation of macro-algae as a feedstock for bio-energy produc- tion within the South African context. |
| Mr. Muller, Christopher: The bio-energy po- tential of the South African sugarcane industry and its ex- pected influence on sustainable development. |
| Mr. Smith, Michael Trevor: Exploring a systems approach for the economic assessment of small-scale anaerobic biodigesters for rural areas. |
| Ms. Kayofa, Lelo: Feasibility and busi-ness plan for manufacturing a 3 kw electrical solar Stirling engine and dish, for a stand-alone power supply unit. |
| Mr. Schultz, Ross: Concentrator photo- voltaic module Design |
| Mr. Malan, Daniel: Integral solar water heating using heat pipes and phase change material (pcm) thermal storage |
| Ms. Brandt, Bianca: Yeast hardening for cellulosic ethanol production. |
| Dr. Kotsedi, Lebogang: Metal to metal-oxide transformation using ultra-fast laser on thin films for electro- magnetic spetrum selection |
| Mr. Van Der Walt, James: Micro-utilities using battery based distribu-tion for rural electrification in South Africa |
| Mr. Poole, Sean: The development of a segmented variable pitch small-scale horizontal axis wind turbine with active pitch control. |
| Ms. DOBSON, Rose- Mary: The devel-opment of recombinant fungal enzyme cocktails for the hydrolysis of cellulosic waste products. |
| Mr. Stander, Johan: Pressure rigidised wind turbine blades - a novelty. |
| Mr. Kusakana, Kanzumba: Techno-economic analysis of an off-grid micro-hydrokinetic river system for remote rural electrification. |
| Mrs. Mayedwa, Noluthando: Devel-opment of platino-iridium/ ruthenium telluride nanoalloy electrode systems for high per- formance ammonia fuel cell. |
| Mr. Hobbs, Kyle: Thermally driven natural circulation water pump |
| Mr. Kusakana, Kanzumba: Design and performance analysis of renewable energy powered electric TUK-TUK bat-tery charging stations inSouth Africa |
| Mr. Stander, Johan: Mechanical design of a dual permanent magnet rotor gen-erator |
| Mr. Gerber, Stiaan: Evaluation and design aspects of magneti- cally geared electrical machines. |
| Mrs. Thwaits, Tiffany: Bats (Chirop-tera) and wind energy - can bat activity patterns make them vulner- able to wind turbine impacts? |
| Mr. Kuyula, Christian: Design of a high efficiency converter for fuel cell appli-cations. |
| Mr. Fraser, Justin: Surface Tension Driven Water pumping |
| Mr. Kusakana, Kanzumba: Perfor-mance mode- ling of a hybrid diesel generator-Battery hybrid system |
| Presentations |
Papers presented at the Third Annual CRSES Student Conference held 22 and 23 November 2012
Papers presented at the Second Annual CRSES Student Conference held 17 and 18 November 2011
Papers presented at the First Annual CRSES Student Conference held 11 and 12 November 2010
