Conveners
Applied: Solar Energy
- Ernest van Dyk (NMMU)
Applied
- Trevor Derry (University of the Witwatersrand)
Applied: Biophysics
- Martin Myer (UNISA, Dept Life & Consumer Sciences)
Applied: Biophysics
- RAYMOND WALTER SPARROW (CSIR - SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY ERA (BIOSCIENCES))
Applied: Biophysics
- phil ferrer (wits)
Applied
- Frederik Vorster (NMMU)
Applied
- Frikkie De Beer (Necsa)
Description
Applied and Industrial Physics
High concentration photovoltaic (CPV) systems utilize non-imaging optics to concentrate and distribute the solar flux uniformly onto a solar receiver to achieve maximum performance and power output from a CPV module. However, in many cases due to mechanical misalignment, tracker error and imperfections in the optical material, the optimum performance of the module is compromised. A LabVIEW...
Efficient thermal management of low concentrator photovoltaic (LCPV) modules ensures that the maximum power capabilities of the LCPV system are harnessed, and may substantially prolong the operating lifetime of the photovoltaic (PV) cells. A general understanding of the thermal transfer properties of PV modules is thus necessary to effectively design, construct, and implement viable LCPV...
The benefit of concentrating sunlight onto solar cells is that expensive solar cell material can be reduced and replaced with relatively inexpensive optical elements, which has the potential to reduce the cost of solar energy. In low concentration photovoltaics (LCPV), solar cells are subjected to higher irradiance levels. The electrical output, and hence efficiency of a LCPV module is...
Recent developments in electricity regulatory environment and the possible inclusion of small, kW-scale, photovoltaic (PV) systems in the feed-in tariff framework has led to an increased interest in these systems. In South Africa, grid reliability issues are not fully mitigated by employing a straight grid-tie PV system, with users sometimes wanting some battery backup for load-shed...
In order for solar energy to become an alternative to traditional fossil fuel energy it is important that defects in photovoltaic (PV) modules can be easily identified. Typically a module is characterised by measuring the current-voltage (I-V) characteristics under standard test conditions. In addition to this electroluminescence (EL) and thermal imaging can be used to identify the location...
We consider a solar trough system in which cylindrical parabolic mirrors focus the sun’s radiation onto a receiver pipe, heating it. Conventionally, the pipe is enclosed in a glass cover under vacuum and the dominant radiation losses are reduced by the use of a selective coating on the receiver pipe. We study the suitability of applying a ‘hot mirror’ coating on the glass cover instead,...
Carbon nanoparticles embedded in thin NiO layers have shown an increasing interest for application in spectrally selective solar absorbers that can be used for low temperature photothermal applications. It is expected that the size and shape of carbon nanoparticles in the NiO matrix is extremely important in tuning the selectivity of the coatings. In this work, multiwall carbon nanotubes...
This paper presents results of long term temperature monitoring in an energy efficient solar house at the University of Fort Hare, South Africa. Measured data was stored by a datalogger every 10 minutes. Formulas for predicting the daily indoor maximum, average and minimum temperatures were developed on the basis of outdoor climatic parameters. Passive solar housing aims to raise and lower...
Few options are apparent for achieving a benign, sustainable energy future except those relying on the utilization of solar energy in one way or another. Experience with fossil and nuclear sources has revealed an array of unsolved problems of increasing concern as more evidence and understanding emerges. Africa has the world’s best solar resources. Several countries have exploited solar...
Electrostatic ion propulsion systems resist miniaturization due to constraints imposed by the size of the discharge chamber. We introduce a thruster concept where the same field is responsible for both ionization of the neutrals and acceleration of the ions, by letting the neutral propellant gas escape into a high field region through a thin, hollow needle at high electric potential. The...
Miniaturization of space prolusion systems has many advantages, both from an economic and performance perspective. One of the most promising propulsion technologies, the gridded electrostatic ion engine, resists miniaturization due to the poor down-scaling characteristics of the ion producing discharge chamber. We investigate a system where the ionization and acceleration mechanisms are...
High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) overhead power transmission trends are currently advancing toward high system voltages over very long distances in a bid to viably tap from remotely located renewable energy sources. Corona effect plays a very crucial role in the design of overhead power transmission systems. Through corona, part of the energy carried on the transmission line is expended...
In the last decade the quantum communication community has witnessed great advances in photonic quantum cryptography technology with the research, development and commercialization of automated Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) devices. These first generation devices are however bottle necked by the achievable spacial coverage. This is due to the intrinsic absorption of the quantum particle...
In the past 50 years lasers has found numerous applications in medicine. One of their advantages is their use for minimalistic or non-invasive diagnosis and treatment. Often that means light penetration through skin and the correct dose required relies on accurate information regarding the skin’s optical properties. Light absorption in the epidermal layer is a major factor in determining...
Optical Coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive imaging technique that is known to be used to monitor changes and differences in different types of materials. In the field of Biophysics/Biophotonics OCT can be used to non-invasively detect changes occurring in tissue. This study will look at using OCT to detect skin cancer. Similar work has been done by other groups, however the...
In order to apply light treatment to skin, the absorption through the outer layers of the skin needs to be considered. Human skin is a highly scattering medium and the melanin in the epidermal layer of the skin is a major absorber of light in the visible and near infrared wavelengths. Darker skin has a higher concentration of melanin in the epidermis and absorbs more light than fair skin....
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease characterized by impeded glucose metabolism and preceded by diabetic ulcers which are chronic due to deteriorated healing process. Hypoxia, decreased fibroblast proliferation and impaired growth factors are amongst root factors that contribute to impaired healing. Photostimulation is a non-invasive treatment that utilizes low intensity laser...
The study investigated the effects of low intensity laser radiation (LILI) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) on adult adipose derived stem cells (hADSCs) isolated from human adipose tissue. Isolated cells were cultured in complete Dulbeco’s Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) containing 10% featal bovine serum (FBS), EGF and antibiotics and incubated at 37°C in 85% humidified atmosphere of 5%...
Since the invention of the laser, its application in the health sector has been studied and in an attempt to discover effective alternative treatments, Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), commonly known as biostimulation or photo-biostimulation, has emerged. This therapy has been successfully used both in in vitro and in vivo studies in wound healing. Although this therapy is in use worldwide,...
Many nascent proteins, including nearly all membrane and secreted proteins, must traverse a membrane-bound protein-conducting channel prior to their full maturation. This channel, the Sec translocon, is found in all domains of life and possesses the novel ability to direct nascent proteins to the membrane or to the extracellular space, depending on their sequences, often concomitant with...
Some results from applying nuclear and related analytical techniques in medical, environmental and industrial biotechnologies are presented. In the biomedical experiments biomass from the blue-green alga Spirulina platensis has been used as a matrix for the development of pharmaceutical substances containing such essential trace elements as selenium, chromium and iodine. The feasibility of...
Nitrilase and amidase enzymes catalyse the conversion of nitriles and amides to their corresponding acid and ammonia - chemistry which is useful in synthesis of drug compounds and fine chemicals. The conversion of cyanide, a nitrile, to ammonia and formic acid is useful in detoxification of contaminated wastewater. The cyanide dihydratase from Bacillus pumilus (CynDpum) catalyses this...
The amidases catalyse the conversion of amides to the corresponding carboxylic acid and ammonia. We have visualized the structure of the amidase (MW= 30 kDa) from a bacterium, Nesterenkonia sp. at atomic resolution by X-ray crystallography. The primary components of the active site are two negatively charged carboxylates (E1 and E2) arising from two conserved glutamate side chains, a...
The South African Neutron Radiography (SANRAD) facility hosts a neutron/x-ray tomography system which is extensively being utilized in non-destructive examination experiments where it is necessary to characterize and determine the properties (e.g. size, porosity, permeability and morphology) of samples. Sometimes, quantitative information is needed about the type elemental composition of...
We look at the use of Positron Emission Tomography to detect light organic elements in two different contexts, namely to locate diamonds within partially crushed kimberlite (Mineral PET), and to locate buried land mines. Light organic elements such as carbon have traditionally proved difficult to locate, and currently mines crush rock down to a fine size, and then employ manual sorting...
Around 70 million tones of coal are burned annually in power stations whilst around 50 million tones of coal are converted to chemicals in the petrochemical sector in the same period of time. Researchers, nationally and internationally, aim to optimize the processes to extract the most energy from the limited coal reserves. One such petrochemical process that is of significance to South...
The concept of radiation, in the scientific and analytical environment is normally not understood and has being neglected and not considered as analytical probe due to the lack of knowledge of the general public and researchers about its potential as analytical probe, the misunderstanding of the possible “danger’ in the utilization thereof and the “unavailability” of facilities in South...
Although diamond has been studied for dosimetry principally due to its near tissue-equivalence, its use in both low-energy X-rays and high-energy electron beams has not been reported. This report is based on dosimetric studies of a synthetic diamond probe when subjected to diagnostic mammography X-ray photons and megavoltage electron therapy beams. The probe, constructed using entirely...
iThemba LABS was requested by the Institut für Kernphysik at Forschungszentrum Jülich, Germany, to design and calculate a magnet system for a proposed non-destructive Ionization Beam Profile Monitor (IBPM) that can measure beam profiles using the secondary ions produced in the rest gas, planned to be implemented with the FAIR-GSI project in Darmstadt Apart from the geometrical...
This study investigates the principle and capabilities of Dual Energy X-Ray Radiography/Tomography when applied on nuclear and related materials. The dual-energy X-ray technique is a significant improvement to X-ray imaging systems and gives additional information on the composition of the object being imaged. Within this technique, two radiographs are obtained at two distinct X-ray...
An understanding of the types of defects produced during the doping/implantation of diamond remains essential for the optimization of high-temperature, high-power electronic applications. Thus this study focuses on investigating the nature of the radiation damage produced during the multi-implantation of carbon ions in synthetic type Ib and natural diamonds, according to the CIRA...
We present results on the synthesis of precise and thickness controlled carbon structures using ion implantation into thin films of a typical metal catalyst, for Schottky contacts and spintronic applications. Thin films of FeCr on a silicon substrate was prepared using magnetron sputtering and then implanted with carbon ions at controlled thicknesses close to the surface at elevated...
The synthesis of the c-BN (cubic boron nitride) has developed great interest due to its excellent physico-electrochemical properties. These include; high hardness values (73 GPa) second after diamond, wide band gap (6.4 eV), optical transparency in a wide region of the electromagnetic spectrum, high temperature stability (1200 oC) and chemical inertness. These properties enable c-BN to be...
