Botswana Journal of Technology 

About: Botswana Journal of Technology is an academic journal. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Finite element method & Diesel fuel. It has an ISSN identifier of 1019-1593. Over the lifetime, 69 publications have been published receiving 248 citations.

MATLAB simulation of induction machine with saturable leakage and magnetizing inductances

Abstract: At high stator phase currents, the effect of saturation of the stator and rotor leakage inductances becomes noticeable to the extent that the conventional machine model fails to represent the dynamic performances of induction machine. In this paper, a commercial software package, MATLAB is used to simulate the dynamic behaviour of induction machine with saturable inductances. The computer results presented in this paper show the errors resulting when the magnetizing, stator and rotor leakage inductances are assumed constant as in the case of conventional machine model. Key Words: Simulation, Saturation effect, Induction machine, Transient state, MATLAB. Botswana Journal of Technology Vol.13(2) 2004: 20-28

Evaluation of a solar crop dryer for rural applications in Nigeria

Abstract: This work is an attempt to exploit the benefits of using forced convection dryers in rural Nigeria by using a photovoltaic powered direct current backward curved centrifugal fan in an indirect solar crop dryer targeted at the subsistent small-scale farmers, who constitute over 90% of the Nigerian farming population. The drying rate, collector and system drying efficiencies were used to evaluate the dryer performance. Temperatures and relative humidity were measured. Corn was dried until no further weight loss occurred. The drying rate of the dryer was 0.74kg/day. The collector and system drying efficiencies were 12% and 10% respectively. The next effort in the development and application of this dryer will be to modify it and obtain better throughput and efficiencies, thereby improving the lot of the rural poor farmers and stimulating the Nigerian economy. (Botswana Journal of Technology: 2002 11(2): 58-62)

Groundwater management by using mathematical modeling: case of the Makutupora groundwater basin in Dodoma Tanzania

Abstract: The ever-growing dependency on groundwater sources for both agriculture and domestic water uses has called for studies to ensure aquifer sustainability. The computer code Visual MODFLOW was employed in the study. The study intended at developing a groundwater management model for Makutupora groundwater basin through mathematical modeling. The model was calibrated using a set of observed dynamic water levels, aquifer parameters until the best fit between the observed and simulated heads was obtained. The model was then verified using parameters that gave the least Root Mean Square Error (RMSE). The developed model was then used to simulate the dynamic water table elevations for the next twenty years under the different management scenarios and pumping policies from the year 2000 to 2020. The model revealed that a pumping scenario that considers a 10 % of rainfall as recharge could ensure aquifer sustainability for the planned period. (Botswana Journal of Technology: 2003 12(1): 19-24)