Korea Electric Power Cooperation Visits UKZN Vibration Research and Testing Centre:
The Vibration Research Testing Centre (VRTC) recently hosted an international delegation from the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO): Mr Sang Hee Choi, and Mr Chen Hee Lee, both Senior managers in the department involved with Transmission Lines. The KEPCO delegation comprised four guests, one of whom was an academic from Pukyong National University (PKNU): Mr Chan Jung Ki who is assistant Professor in the Mechanical Department, and Two others from the Cheryong Industrial Corporation: Mr Eui Yeon Keum and Mr Eun Soo Ryu respectively, Head Director and senior manager in the Research and Development department.
The delegation was also accompanied by employees of Eskom including Mr Riaz Vajeth (Senior Manager Transmission Lines), Mr Logan Pillay (Eskom Academy), Mr Bertie Jacobs (Transmission line chief technologist) and Mr Neels Henderson (transmission line design engineer).
Vajeth initiated the collaboration with KEPCO to illustrate the facilities and capabilities that they possess. The delegation first visited the Eskom and Preformed Line Products (PLP) facilities in Pietermaritzburg before coming to the VRTC located at the Westville campus.
The aim of the visit was to demonstrate UKZN’s facilities and competence in Vibration Research and Testing. Mr Pravesh Moodley co-ordinated the tours, which included touring the facilities at the Centre of Excellence for HVDC and the SMART grid.
Dr Andrew Swanson presented on high voltage DC transmission (HVDC) and flexible AC transmission system (FACTS), and gave an overview of the University with the emphasis on UKZN’s School of Engineering.
Mr Daniel Kubelwa (PhD student) presented on his research, which is focused on an ‘Experimental and Numerical Study of Aeolian Vibrations of Bundled Conductors’.
MSc student, Mr Clyton Mundenguma presented on his research work, namely: ‘The experimental and numerical analysis of the combined static and dynamic load of the High Voltage Insulators’.
The presentations were followed by a tour of the VRTC and a demonstration of the vibrating bundled conductors by Kubelwa and Moodley. The day was closed by a discussion around the Science, Technology and Innovation Park, led by Mr Logan Pillay from Eskom.
PKNU representative Mr Kim Chan-Jung said that UKZN’s technical achievements for controlling the vibration of transmission lines were excellent.
Words by: Leena Rajpal
