STERG has an intern coming all the way from Osnabrück University, Germany. Nils Meier zu Farwig is visiting STERG for five months under the supervision of Dr Willie Smit, while he completes his research in heliostat design as part of his bachelor’s thesis.
He is currently designing a new heliostat for the STERG’s solar lab with a total of six heliostats being used in his research.
He explains the ongoing research activities: “I began the process by exploring various design concepts and running simulations to evaluate their performance under the specific environmental conditions at STERG. After reviewing the results together with my supervisor, Willie, we selected the design that best meets the project’s requirements and is most suitable for prototyping. A few adjustments were still necessary, including modifications to the mounting system for the axial and linear actuators on the roof, as well as final decisions regarding the materials and dimensions of the heliostat.”
After delivery of parts, Nils plans to do testing and simulation work: “Once they arrive, I will begin the assembly and testing phase. The results will then be compared with the original simulations to evaluate the accuracy of the models and the overall performance of the final prototype.”
When asked about what he has learnt he said: “During the design process, I had the opportunity to learn several new programs for simulation, modelling, and programming. I also gained valuable insight into the practical responsibilities of an engineer in a real-world setting. This project has been a great way to understand how engineering problems are approached, by gathering knowledge within a research group and combining it with individual ideas to find effective solutions.”
Nils has also taken the opportunity to explore parts of the Western Cape, having already done trips to the Garden route, the vineyards of Stellenbosch, surfing in Muizenberg and hiking up Table Mountain as well as Stellenbosch Mountain.
We wish Nils nothing but the best for the rest of his time here in Stellenbosch and hope he enjoys everything that STERG has to offer.
Article by Tenzin Koetsier