THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN INSTITUTE OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS | OCTOBER 2017 wattnow | october 2017 | 1 Venue Emperors Palace, Ekurhuleni, South Africa Dates 28, 29 and 30 November 2017 Theme Showcasing energy storage technologies and applications as an enabling and disruptive technology. A focussed conference and exhibition covering policy, regulatory, economic, technology, business and application issues associated with Energy Storage, both as a disrupting and an enabling technology. Organised & hosted by 2 | wattnow | Foroctober further 2017 information see website: www.energystorage.co.za 17- SA Energy Storage 2017 - A4 - Wattnow.indd 1 27/09/2017 11:39:59 Venue Emperors Palace, Ekurhuleni, South Africa Dates 28, 29 and 30 November 2017 UNDERGROUND WI-FI COMMS 22 THE LAW CALLS FOR RELIABLE COMMUNICATIONS Theme Showcasing energy storage technologies and applications as an TRIPLE POLAR BAND-PASS FILTER enabling and disruptive technology. FEATURES 36 BANDWIDTH IS BEING OBSERVED FULLY UTILISING IOT IN INDUSTRY 44 COMMUNICATION IS CRUCIAL FOR THE CLOUD 20 MEMBERSHIP NOTIFICATION 47 COMMUNICATING WITH ET 48 HOW FIBRE WILL AIDE SA 56 44 48 WATTSUP 8 WATT? 60 A focussed conference and exhibition covering policy, regulatory, economic, technology, business and LOOKING BACK... OCTOBER application issues associated with Energy Storage, both as a disrupting and an enabling technology. 62 CALENDAR 65 62 Organised & hosted by www.energystorage.co.za For further information see website: SAIEE @saiee wattnow | october 2017 | 3 17- SA Energy Storage 2017 - A4 - Wattnow.indd 1 27/09/2017 11:39:59 MANAGING EDITOR Minx Avrabos | [email protected] TECHNICAL EDITORS Derek Woodburn Jane-Anne Buisson-Street Dear Reader, CONTRIBUTORS We have entered the ‘silly’ season, S Mbanjwa with year-end functions and parties P Motsoasele F Sorkh Abadi filling our diaries! It is because of A Roohavar this that I chose this issue features K Jacobs Communication. D Basson A Cameron Without communication the world would be a very quiet place - which J Buisson-Street might not be a bad idea - but alas - we are currently living within the EVENTS fourth industrial revolution - where communication is imperative. Gerda Geyer | [email protected] Unfortunately, we are all so involved with our communication devices, that we forget to look up at the person next to you - and smell the roses. CPD & COURSE ACCREDITATION Sue Moseley | [email protected] Our first feature is a paper written by SAIEE Member, Pascal Motoasele MEMBERSHIP & TECHNOLOGY LEADERSHIP on “Feasibility of using Wi-Fi for underground mine communications. Ansie Smith | [email protected] He compares various Wi-Fi variants and vendors. Read more on page 22. ADVERTISING Avenue Advertising T 011 463 7940 | F 086 518 9936 | E [email protected] On page 36, all the way submitted from Iran, is a paper on electronic communications - a case study on the design and simulation of a triple PUBLISHER polar band pass filter with defected ground structure. South African Institute of Electrical Engineers SAIEE HEAD OFFICE Our last feature article is posing the question: “What does cloud P.O. Box 751253 | Gardenview | 2047 integration mean?” Read it on page 44. T 011 487 3003 | F 011 487 3002 E [email protected] | W www.saiee.org.za Page 46 list the new membership fees for 2018. Please familiarise Office Hours: 8am-4pm yourself with the fees and pay yours in time, to qualify for the discount. We have a lovely article written by Dudley Basson on Astronomy - “Communicating with ET” - read it on page 48. SAIEE 2017 OFFICE BEARERS President Jacob Machinjike Deputy President Hendri Geldenhuys Herewith the October issue, enjoy the read! Senior Vice President George Debbo Junior Vice President Sy Gourrah Immediate Past President T.C. Madikane Honorary Treasurer Viv Crone Honorary Vice President Ben Kotze Chief Executive Officer Stan Bridgens ISSN: 1991-0452 South African Institute of Electrical Engineers. All material is strictly copyright and all rights are reserved. Reproduction without permission is forbidden. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the SAIEE. E&OE Visit www.saiee.org.za to answer the questions related to these articles to earn your CPD points. 4 | wattnow | october 2017 Help Us march to ONE million happy hearts The Santa Shoebox Project collects and distributes gifts at Christmas time to underprivileged children throughout South Africa and Namibia. We’re aiming to have reached one million children by 2019! wattnow | october 2017 | 5 www.santashoebox.org.za JOG Trust IT2671/2009 |PBO-930031301 | NPO 102-098 | Section 18A 82078-Santa Shoebox- A4 poster design_FA.indd 1 2017/05/24 11:18 AM 2017 SAIEE PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS "The fast changes in communication technologies require new skill sets and regulations." In some countries in Africa, mobile The traditional Telecommunications money subscriptions are reported to be in industry has seen many changes in excess of 40 million people accounting for recent years, particularly with the an equivalent of over R130 billion worth of mainstream introduction of the Internet transactions. The enabler for these services Protocol (IP) and Over the Top (OTT) has been advances in telecommunications networks. These have subsequently led technologies and availability of bandwidth. to unified communications and greater Indeed, the introduction of 3G networks collaboration, together with integration in 1998 provided for higher data rates and of traditional Information Technology better mobile internet connectivity. It also (IT) services, to create the now called introduced applications not previously Information and Communications available to mobile phone users, such Technology (ICT). JACOB MACHINJIKE as location-based services, GPS, mobile TV, videoconferencing, social media and In Power Utilities and Systems, mission 2017 SAIEE PRESIDENT internet of things. Telecommunications critical services over packet networks is also an understated prerequisite in require cyber security to be at the centre enabling the monitoring and control of of every design. Security management critical infrastructure and services, in systems are critical to facilitate centralized Communication is areas such as electrical power system, management of security policies, and to an essential human rail, freight, military, and travel, amongst enable utilities to react as fast as possible others. in the likely events of cyber-attacks. need, and arguably a Some utilities have developed proprietary basic human right. As Telecommunications technologies and solutions with algorithms to detect cyber- infrastructure are at the centre of economic attacks before they even happen. These such, social media growth and development. Studies have cognitive systems provide the security platforms such as indicated a strong correlation between management centre with dashboards Facebook, Twitter having Internet access and Gross Domestic showing potential cyber-attacks, and Product (GDP) growth. In South Africa, targeted network locations in real-time. and WhatsApp have the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project become entrenched has contributed to the development of The fast changes in communication parts of the Northern Cape Province. technologies require new skill sets and in our everyday life, as The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) radio regulations. Human capital development they enable us to keep telescope project is co-located in Australia programmes need to be enhanced, and and in Africa. In Africa the SKA will be well directed to support professionals in touch and easily built in South Africa and eight other working with the technologies. We live in communicate with our African Countries. This is the largest radio exciting times for communications. network of people. telescope ever built, and will produce science that changes our understanding of the universe. J Machinjike | SAIEE President 2017 Pr. Eng | FSAIEE 6 | wattnow | october 2017 wattnow | october 2017 | 7 CURRENT AFFAIRS 2017 SAIEE Smart Grid Conference From left: Stan Bridgens (SAIEE CEO), Nico de Jager (MMC, Environmental & Infrastructure Services), Reji Kumar Pillai (President, India Smart Grid Forum), George Debbo (Chairman, Organising Committee) and Jacob Machinjike (SAIEE President). In his opening address at the SAIEE’s Smart recently, heard that since the continent has which industry will have to provide and Grid Conference recently, the president of wonderful wind and solar energy resources, which may require some changes at tertiary the South African Institute of Electrical these should be harnessed and fed into a education level. Engineers (SAIEE), Jacob Machinjike, smart grid which would efficiently control said that a smart grid infrastructure would and regulate the inherently varying supply In his presentation, Nico de Jager, a provide unique opportunities for improved of electricity. councillor from the Johannesburg City electricity services which would benefit Council, said that a smart grid would people in Africa. Machinjike said that the development of a be of benefit to City Power as the utility smart grid, which will enable the integration focuses on the growth and extension of its The conference, which was held at the of renewable energy sources into micro- electrification programme. Johannesburg, Eskom Convention Centre in Midrand and mini-grids, will also require new skills he said, which covers an area of over 8 | wattnow | october 2017 Delegate Registration Desk Exhibitor: Siswe