Design and development of an off-grid e-learning centre for rural communities

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dc.contributor.advisorSchoeman, R. M.
dc.contributor.advisorPienaar, H. C. v Z.
dc.contributor.authorSelaule, Vusimuze Edgar
dc.date.accessioned2017-05-25T00:48:54Z
dc.date.available2017-05-25T00:48:54Z
dc.date.issued2015-01
dc.descriptionM. Tech. (Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology), Vaal University of Technology|en_US
dc.description.abstractThe lack of electricity in off-grid rural communities in South Africa (SA) and Africa as well as the budget constraints on these communities restrict these communities from connecting to any online resources (internet and e-books) for educational purposes, thus creating a major contributor to the global digital divide. Renewable energy sources such as solar energy, wind energy and biomass were presented as potential alternatives to grid-connected electricity for remote rural locations. Solar energy was identified as the amply available alternative energy resource in SA. Solar radiation was converted by photovoltaic technology to electricity. National power grid isolation (off-grid) was achieved by using a stand-alone photovoltaic system. Photovoltaic technology classification, material categorisation and system sizing for an e-learning centre was presented. Practical set-ups were utilised to determine the most cost-effective equipment mix of power utilization, power management/storage and ICT equipment to build a pilot e-learning centre. It was established that one photovoltaic panel can be employed to fully recharge a battery of a pilot e-learning centre with an operational period of 7 hours using the available sunlight hours. Owing to the susceptibility of the Vaal Triangle region to thunderstorms causing overcast conditions for days, a ratio of back-up battery capacity (Ah) to number of days (seven hours per day) without sunlight was determined. An algorithm was also derived for sizing the pilot e-learning centre for full scale implementation. Future research recommendations based on this study for a reduced system costs of an off-grid e-learning for rural communities powered by a renewable energy resource were presented. This will increase access to basic education in SA and reduce the global digital divide.en_US
dc.format.extentxiv, 140 leaves: illustrationsen_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10352/350
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.subjectOff-grid rural communitiesen_US
dc.subjectDigital divideen_US
dc.subjectOnline resourcesen_US
dc.subjectRenewable energy sourcesen_US
dc.subjectSolar energyen_US
dc.subjectPhotovoltaic systemen_US
dc.subjectE-learning centreen_US
dc.subjectBack-up radio capacityen_US
dc.subjectBasic educationen_US
dc.subject.ddc371.334en_US
dc.subject.lcshSolar energyen_US
dc.subject.lcshInternet in educationen_US
dc.titleDesign and development of an off-grid e-learning centre for rural communitiesen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
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