A group of BTech Mechanical Engineering students have put their skills to good use by assisting with the conservation of the banks of the Liesbeek River in Bishopscourt Village.

The project is an initiative of the Bishopscourt Village Residence Association and has contributed to the conservation of the area and job creating through the establishment of a nursery that propagates indigenous shrubs for planting on the river bank.

Earlier this year CPUT was approached by the association and asked to develop a greener and cost-effective solution for pumping water from the river to the nursery.

STRUCTURE: Students constructed a pump house for the hydraulic ram-pump

James Ledingham, Lorenzo Parisi, Ross Rampf and Clifford Hakimi took on the challenge as part of their BTech project and came up with an innovative solution.

The team developed a hydraulic ram-pump that relies on hydropower to pump the water into the storage tanks, which are located 20meters above river level. They also built a pump house and laid over 100meters of pipeline.

Group leader James says the nursery was previously making use of a petrol pump, which proved costly.

“We developed a prototype and ran a number of tests,” says James.

Once happy with their design, the students manufactured the hydraulic ram-pump, making use of standard parts that can be easily replaced.

CLOSER LOOK: The hydraulic ram-pump is constructed from standard parts

James says they also developed a manual that can be used by those involved in the daily running of the project.

Lorenzo says the project, which ran from March to November this year, was challenging but well worth all the effort.

“We were able to apply what we learnt in class and get insight into other aspects of engineering,” he says.

Lecturer Victoria Cain, who supervised the project along with Dr Joan Parker, says the project will continue into next year and will see the 2014 BTech class further develop aspects of the pump.

RIVER: The group at work alongside the banks of the Liesbeek River in Bishopscourt Village

Written by Candes Keating
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Provides coverage for the Engineering and Applied Sciences Faculties; the Bellville and Wellington Campuses, and research and innovation news.

A group of BTech Mechanical Engineering students are using their skills to manufacture an innovative product that will positively impact farming in the Western Cape.

Ruan Coetzee, James Genis and Ruan Hunlun spent the past few months designing a high-tech beetroot topper as part of their year-long BTech project.

Coetzee says when their lecturer, Victoria Cain, tasked them with devising an innovative project, they decided to take a look at the farming community in Ceres, who identified the need for a more effective way of dealing with beetroot during the harvesting process.

“Currently farmers are cutting the foliage by hand, which is a time consuming method,” he says.

TECHNOLOGY: The beetroot topper

Coetzee says the beetroot topper, which measures 1.8x2x2 metres, is designed to remove foliage from beetroot as it is being harvested.

Hunlun says they spent several months working on the project, which involved intricate design work.

With no other similar machine on the marker, the team also spent hours researching suitable parts and materials for the manufacturing of the device.

Genis says thanks to funding from a Ceres-based farmer, they will now build a prototype and put it into operation at the Laastedrift Farm.

Written by Candes Keating
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Provides coverage for the Engineering and Applied Sciences Faculties; the Bellville and Wellington Campuses, and research and innovation news.

CPUT’s Charles Keey is leading the University Sport South Africa (USSA) Cycling Tournament.

A  BTech Mechanical Engineering student, Keey’s natural talent for cycling coupled with strong technical skills has seen him clinch the much sought-after Yellow jersey, which he will wear in today’s races.

Keey has clinched top spots this week, including first place in the Nedbank/Old Mutual Challenge Mountain Bike Challenge and the Drakenstein Long Road Stage event, which saw riders complete a route of 124 km.

TOUGH: Cyclists' endurance was put to the test during the Drakenstein Long Road Stage event, which saw them complete a route of 124 km.

Another strong competitor in this year’s USSA Cycling Tournament is Michel Coetze from North West University, who has been leading the female stages.

Coetze, who has been competing in cycling events for the past three years, clinched first place in the female Drakenstein Long Road Stage event as well as the Nedbank/Old Mutual Challenge Mountain Bike Challenge.

After a tough week of hard riding, cyclists will today compete in the last two events of the tournament, which will determine the overall winners.

The first event will test riders’ hill climbing skills as they race up to the well-known Taal Monument in Paarl. A distance of just over 1km, this is a tough challenge.

After a short break the riders will be back on their bicycles as they compete in the final event of the week long USSA tour - the Nedbank/Old Mutual Criterium Event.

This popular event takes place at the Wellington Campus and is the last chance for riders to clinch important sprinter points as well as to secure first place in the team competition.

By Candes Keating

For more photographs of the event see the CPUT Facebook Page

Written by CPUT News
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