Advanced analytics for process analysis of turbine plant and components

This research investigates the use of an alternate means of modelling the performance of a train of feed water heaters in a steam cycle power plant, using machine learning. The goal of this study was to use a simple artificial neural network (ANN) to predict the behaviour of the plant system, specifically the inlet bled steam (BS) mass flow rate and the outlet water temperature of each feedwater heater. The output of the model was validated through the use of a thermofluid engineering model built for the same plant. Another goal was to assess the ability of both the thermofluid model and ANN model to predict plant behaviour under out of normal operating circumstances. The thermofluid engineering model was built on FLOWNEX® SE using existing custom components for the various heat exchangers. The model was then tuned to current plant conditions by catering for plant degradation and maintenance effects. The artificial neural network was of a multi-layer perceptron (MLP) type, using the rectified linear unit (ReLU) activation function, mean squared error (MSE) loss function and adaptive moments (Adam) optimiser. It was constructed using Python programming language. The ANN model was trained using the same data as the FLOWNEX® SE model. Multiple architectures were tested resulting in the optimum model having two layers, 200 nodes or neurons in each layer with a batch size of 500, running over 100 epochs. This configuration attained a training accuracy of 0.9975 and validation accuracy of 0.9975. When used on a test set and to predict plant performance, it achieved a MSE of 0.23 and 0.45 respectively. Under normal operating conditions (six cases tested) the ANN model performed better than the FLOWNEX® SE model when compared to actual plant behaviour. Under out of normal conditions (four cases tested), the FLOWNEX SE® model performed better than the ANN. It is evident that the ANN model was unable to capture the “physics” of a heat exchanger or the feed heating process as a result of its poor performance in the out of normal scenarios. Further tuning by way of alternate activation functions and regularisation techniques had little effect on the ANN model performance. The ANN model was able to accurately predict an out of normal case only when it was trained to do so. This was achieved by augmenting the original training data with the inputs and results from the FLOWNEX SE® model for the same case. The conclusion drawn from this study is that this type of simple ANN model is able to predict plant performance so long as it is trained for it. The validity of the prediction is highly dependent on the integrity of the training data. Operating outside the range which the model was trained for will result in inaccurate predictions. It is recommended that out of normal scenarios commonly experienced by the plant be synthesised by engineering modelling tools like FLOWNEX® SE to augment the historic plant data. This provides a wider spectrum of training data enabling more generalised and accurate predictions from the ANN model

Exploring University Students’ Perceptions of Plagiarism: A Focus Group Study

Plagiarism is a matter of great concern to those who teach in higher education. The increase in technology has resulted in plagiarism becoming a source of anxiety for many students. Universities are continually being called upon to devote more time and resources to combating plagiarism. However, what of their understanding of students’ attitudes towards and understandings of plagiarism? It is critical to understand student perceptions towards plagiarism to develop approaches to combat plagiarism. This paper reports on a focus group study that generated qualitative data on students’ perceptions of plagiarism. Informal group discussions were held with first-year students to show how plagiarism appears from the undergraduate student\u27s perspective. An interview schedule was developed to provide an overall direction for the discussion. The schedule followed a semi-structured, open-ended format to enable participants to set their agenda. The analysis revealed that students lack understanding of plagiarism, have certain assumptions about plagiarism, and have negative attitudes towards assigned tasks. This paper argues that there is merit in understanding students’ perspectives regarding plagiarism to develop successful strategies to promote academic integrity and prevent plagiarism. The paper concludes with a recommendation that lecturers at tertiary institutions need to teach explicitly plagiarism, how to avoid it, and referencing. &nbsp

A comparative socio-economic impact analysis of the 2010 Comrades Marathon on the cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg.

Doctor of Philosophy in Sport Science. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Westville 2015.Sport has always been a significant component of society but is now becoming an increasingly significant component of the economy. Recent years have seen the staging of hallmark and mega-events in sport as increasingly important in the development of a tourist product centered on large cities (Jones, 2001). Studies that assess the impact of hallmark and mega-events often focus on the economic impact of the host economy. Such events are often rationalised as an economic initiative of the host governing authority. This study aspires to estimate the economic and social impacts of a large one-day international sporting event viz. the 2010 Comrades Marathon on the economies of two cities viz. Pietermaritzburg and Durban. A secondary objective is to demonstrate the value of such a major sporting event to the regional and provincial governments as well as formal and informal businesses in the said cities. This study also addresses the social impact of the event on the residents and communities in KwaZulu-Natal. According to Matheson (2006) the role of sports in a society such as South Africa in driving the developmental agenda cannot be over-emphasised. He stated that sporting events do not only play an important economic role but are also useful catalysts in forging social cohesion and nation building. This study also seeks to investigate the socio-economic impact of the 2010 FIFA World Cup that was hosted in South Africa on the Comrades Marathon. Durban was one of the nine cities that hosted games whilst Pietermaritzburg was utilised as a training venue by one of the international teams. It is important to note that the first World Cup match was played eleven days after the Comrades Marathon was run. The study also seeks to investigate the regional origins of visitors to the event and the relationship between the visitors both national and international and the expenditure generated at the event. Durban and Pietermaritzburg like other key cities in the world are and will increasingly be confronted by two vital and related challenges. Firstly, there is need to successfully compete in a universal economy characterised by increased competition and globalisation. Secondly, there is need to eliminate poverty and address issues of inequality and marginalisation. Thus, the Comrades Marathon, as a hallmark sporting event, can be seen as a primary driver to create jobs and contribute to competitiveness. The organisation of major sporting events is a crucial time in the lives of large cities. It provides them with an opportunity to promote themselves, their energy and creativity and, increasingly, their competitiveness. However, it also involves exchanging experiences in this field so as to control the effects, minimise possible risks and guarantee positive results as far as possible. Measuring the effect of an event on the development of a city is a complex and demanding task. This exercise spreads over a variety of different spheres viz. the economy, society, tourism, public finance, organisation capacity, infrastructures, public confidence and international reputation. Much of the analysis in this study was undertaken using a questionnaire survey to interview the key interest groups at the registration venues in both the cities prior to the event and on race day at the finish venue in Durban. The data collected was then analysed using a specialist statistical software package viz. SPSS to calculate the additional expenditure in the host cities. In certain instances, face-to-face interviews were employed to collect the data. The questionnaire requested data on places of residence, the age, gender, occupations, income, spending patterns, features of the cities, unsavoury incidents experienced and the types of activities that the population found attractive. The population comprised of foreign runners and supporters, domestic runners and supporters that reside in other provinces of South Africa, residents of the cities, stall holders at the registration venues, representatives of the sponsors of the event, the organizer of the Bonitas Comrades Experience, vendors, the organisers of the event and representatives of selected shopping malls and hotels in the cities. A truly great sports event is an event where the impact and spin-offs for all those involved viz. the organisers, the community within which the event takes place, the participants and possibly the government, is a positive one when clear benefit is acquired from the event. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used to analyse the data collected. The Chi-Square Test and the Analysis of Variance were applied in this study. The chi-square test was used to determine whether there is a significant difference between the expected frequencies and the observed frequencies in one or more categories. The ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) was used to analyse the differences between group means and their associated procedures. It provides a statistical test of whether or not the means of several groups are equal and is useful in comparing/testing three or more means i.e. groups or variables for statistical significance. The p-value of 0.001 that was computed revealed that there was a significant difference in terms of the racial groups amongst the respondents who resided in Durban and Pietermaritzburg. This can be attributed to the substantial increase in the number of participants and their supporters and family members that arrived in the cities because of the aggressive marketing campaign that the CMA had conducted both internationally and nationally and the fact that the 2010 FIFA World Cup was hosted by South Africa. The p-value regarding the income earned by the respondents was calculated to be 0.001 which showed that there was a significant difference in the income of the respondents who visited the registration venues in Durban and Pietermaritzburg. The p-value of 0.8 revealed that there was no significant difference in the age categories of the respondents that resided in both the cities. A p-value of 0.001 confirmed that there was a significant difference in the items the respondents purchased in the cities. The p-value of 0.20 verified that there was no significant difference in the various types of accommodation establishments that the respondents utilized in both cities. The p-value of 0.001 indicated that there was a significant difference in the duration of stay of the respondents who resided in Durban and those who resided in Pietermaritzburg. The findings of this study revealed that a grand total of R130 978 314 was new income that was generated by the participants, their families and friends. This amount comprised of R110 340 612 that was generated in Durban and R20 637 702 in Pietermaritzburg. A closer examination of the amount generated in Durban showed that R93 397 920 was the average daily expenditure of the participants, their families and friends and that R16 942 692 was the expenditure spent on accommodation. The findings also revealed that of the total amount spent in Pietermaritzburg the sum of R16 283 266 was the average daily expenditure by the participants, their families and friends and R4 354 436 represented the expenditure spent by the afore-mentioned on accommodation. This bodes well for the event, the organisers and the Cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg. It must also be noted that the Comrades Marathon also brings additional intangible benefits for the local and South African fraternity. The event is also likely to have significant yet unquantifiable benefits for the local economy by presenting Durban and Pietermaritzburg in a positive light to the South African television audience and to its potential participants and their supporters. In addition to the quantifiable impacts related to the Comrades Marathon that was previously discussed, the event also engendered significant intangible benefits to the communities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg in terms of lifestyle improvements. Examples of the intangible benefits are: • significant national and international exposure for the cities as sport fans who enjoyed their visits to the cities may return later thereby raising future tourist revenues • enhancing community pride, self-image, exposure, reputation and prestige associated with hosting a world-famous event and in this way creating a climate of optimism • enhancing the national and international image of the cities so that they become world-class cities and travel destinations • enhancing economic growth and ancillary private sector development spurred on by the operations and activities associated with the Comrades Marathon • providing assets in the cities e.g. the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Durban that can augment their world-class attractions, accommodations and international airport • increase in tourism • promoting the cultural diversity of the population in terms of race, ethnicity and religion • motivate the community to develop active healthy lifestyles and in so doing reduce absenteeism and increase productivity in the work place Furthermore, there is escalating evidence that the media coverage of the race has improved. Gerretsen (2006) reported that Tourism KZN confirmed that the race was viewed by millions because of the television coverage. It is envisaged that television viewers might decide to take a trip to the city at some time in the future based on what they see during the broadcast of the event. This is an exceptional way to showcase the province’s scenic beauty and the warmth and hospitality of its inhabitants. The potential of the Comrades Marathon to attract more visitors and for the visitors to stay longer is indicated by the number of visitors who expressed an interest in existing activities and/or attractions which are related to sport and recreation. The Comrades Marathon is an excellent example of a hallmark sporting event that attracts “outsiders” to the region and the cities. These tourists thus generate “new money” into the economies of the cities and the province

Impact of organisational restructuring on employee morale and health.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.In today’s world, organisational restructuring and change is a continuous, inevitable phenomenon, which impact and affects employees and organisations in various ways. The aim of this research is to determine how the restructuring process was planned and implemented by the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) and if it had negatively or positively impacted the morale and health of its employees. This would assist to determine possible approaches on how any future change should be effectively managed within the organisation, to ensure there are no adverse effects on employees and the organisation. A quantitative research strategy approach was used for the study and the population consisted of all UKZN’s staff with a response from 136 participants completing a web-based questionnaire developed for this specific study. An analysis of the results revealed that there was a lack of consultation and employee participation, with staff not given an opportunity to give input in planning and implementation of the change and there was a lack of support and guidance from managers. An important finding was that almost 70% of participants reported that the change has impacted negatively on their morale and health at the institution. It was also reported that management had not implemented the process effectively; as a result, there was a lack of trust and confidence in management. There was also a lack of communication to staff and all relevant information was not accurately and timeously communicated. It is recommended that for any future restructuring process to be successful, a transparent and fair change process, together with quality enhanced communication of changes and employee participation and feedback is very important to ensure less stress related health effects are experienced by staff. Managers should ensure supportive restructuring mechanisms put in place to ensure healthy change processes and employee well-being is maintained

An exploration of the feminine quality in the working environment: towards creating an equal gender workplace typology.

Master’s Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.This research involves the understanding of the feminine quality in working environments. The competitive nature of these highly productive office spaces creates environments where the user is not considered in the design of these spaces. The feminine quality is more focused on the emotional and social aspects of the environment and people involved. If applied correctly, it has the ability to bring a user focused design to the office space environment. The concept of the invisible flaneur and the chora allow a new thought process towards the female quality. Highlighting positive aspects of the feminine quality, such as nurturing spaces, and shows how these principals benefit spatial design. The findings of this research confirm that spatial qualities show that the users of the space are not considered and this creates an unethical way of designing spaces. In the applying the principles derived from the literature, we can create spaces that are inclusive and functional to the needs of both genders The typology that is proposed is one not designed specifically for women or men, but tries to encompass the positive humane approach of the feminine and apply it into environments that are lacking these qualities. This thesis will hopefully contribute in creating more gender equal environments

Analysis of the radicalisation of Islam : case studies from South Africa and the United Kingdom.

Master of Social Sciences in Criminology and Forensic Studies. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 2017.Radicalisation is a problem to which no country is immune. It is a dramatic shift in behaviour and attitude that carries undesirable consequences such as the breakdown of families, communities, and democracies – with the ultimate consequence being terrorism. The growing concern of Islamic radicalisation and the impact it can possibly have underscores the focus of the current study. It also speaks to issues around religious freedom and the broader fight against terrorism. It will be looking into the commonly cited causes of radicalisation and the psychological processes involved in an individual’s path to radicalism. The research was approached from a constructionist orientation meaning that individuals shape their reality based on their beliefs and interactions with other people and the world. The study examines radicalisation within a paradigm focused on a combination of criminological and psychological principles, to produce a contextualised study on Islamic radicalisation. Case studies from South Africa and the United Kingdom will be assessed with the theoretical frameworks of Moghaddam’s Staircase to Terrorism (2005) and the Root Cause Model (Veldhuis & Staun, 2009) to demonstrate the universality of the phenomenon of radicalisation. The study rests on the idea of instrumental rationality found in rational choice theory with the objective of assessing South Africa’s risk to radicalisation based on micro and macro factors. The research found that the factors, which result in radicalisation, are many and complex, and may not be reduced to a single cause. Although one factor that seems to play a very significant role is identity, more specifically the need to belong, be accepted and to have a purpose. In other words, the radical religious ideology provides vocabulary and a bolstered identity, whereas politics provide the stimulus. The ideology of the group is not as important as what the group is offering the individual in terms of acceptance and a platform for expression. This study, as previously stated is about Islamism due to global concern, although it could have been about any radical organisation or movement. It is recommended that discussions about religion, identity, foreign policy and politics be encouraged especially amongst younger people. These discussions should not be weakened by political correctness, or when a radical view is expressed, the fear of censure. All ideologies are, and should be open to questioning and investigation. The researcher understands that this topic may be misunderstood – implying that there is a heightened risk posed by specific groups. It is hoped that the substance of the study will prove otherwise, with the researcher maintaining a secular view throughout

The chosen voices in HIV/AIDS education : an exploration of how primary school educators communicate.

Thesis (M.Ed.) - University of Kwazulu-Natal, 2006.The rapid rate, at which HIV/AIDS is being spread, is changing the face of modern society. The alarming statistics revealed by research, bears testimony to this fact. According to Bennell (2003), the total number of HIV/AIDS maternal and two-parent orphans for subSaharan Africa is expected to increase from 9.85 million in 2001 to 18.67 million in 2010. Education has a pivotal role to play in effectively dealing with the effects of the pandemic, as well as in creating awareness among learners on HIV/AIDS preventative education. The chief medium through which ideas are conveyed and awareness is raised, is through the use of language. The focus of this dissertation was to critically explore the language used by educators within the context of HIV/AIDS Education, at primary school level. This was done in two ways. The first was conducting an in-depth analysis of documents pertinent to HIV/AIDS Education, in an attempt to ascertain which themes, concepts and terms frequently feature in these various documents. The second was exploring these themes, concepts and terms with regard to how these were perceived and understood by the participants in the study. The translation of the meanings the participants attached to these concepts and terms, and how these translated into learning activities within the classroom context, received attention during classroom and lesson observations. A case-study design within the qualitative mode of inquiry was employed. Document analysis, observation and in-depth interviews were used to obtain data pertaining to the area of study. Three Life Orientation educators, from a suburban, co-educational school in the Kwa-Zulu Natal area, participated in the study. The Critical Discourse Analysis framework informed the study. The study also explored the usage of non-verbal signs and suggestions to convey meaning and understanding among learners. The participants' predispositions, ideologies and pre-conceived notions of what was appropriate, in terms of themes explored within the context of HIV/AIDS education, were also examined in light of any bearing these might have had in the process of facilitating understanding among learners. Due consideration was given to contextual factors, and how these might have influenced the processes of creating meaning and understanding among learners. The findings revealed by this research, provide valuable insights into some of the interpretations of some of the terms and concepts that are commonly associated with HIV/AIDS by educators. In addition, they present the possibility of alternate meanings of these terms and concepts, suggesting that multiple meanings are possible within the context of HIV/AIDS education. The implications of this study for classroom practice are numerous

The Bhagavad Gita for values education in life orientation: perceptions and possibilities.

Doctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.Abstract available in PDF