http://hdl.handle.net/10149/47213 Tue, 21 May 2013 11:29:02 GMT 2013-05-21T11:29:02Z http://hdl.handle.net/10149/280803 Title: The relationship between English national habitus and football fandom Authors: Gibbons, T. (Tom) Fri, 01 Jun 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10149/280803 2012-06-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10149/263268 Title: Automatic generation control of the Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) and the Oman Electricity Transmission Company (OETC) interconnected power systems Authors: Al-Busaidi, A. G. (Adil) Abstract: Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) and Oman Electricity Transmission Company (OETC) are running the main 132kV power transmission grids in the Sultanate of Oman. In the year 2001, PDO and OETC grids were interconnected with a 132kV Over head transmission line linking Nahada 132kV substation at PDO's side to Nizwa 132kV sub-station at OETC's side. Since then the power exchange between PDO and OETC is driven by the natural impedances of the system and the frequency and power exchange is controlled by manually re-dispatching the generators. In light of the daily load profile and the forecasted Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states electrical interconnection, it is a great challenge for PDO and OETC grids operators to maintain the existing operation philosophy. The objective of this research is to investigate Automatic Generation Control (AGC) technology as a candidate to control the grid frequency and the power exchange between PDO and OETC grid. For this purpose, a dynamic power system model has been developed to represent PDO-OETC interconnected power system. The model has been validated using recorded data from the field which has warranted the requirement of refining the model. Novel approaches have been followed during the course of the model refining process which have reduced the modelling error to an acceptable limit. The refined model has then been used to assess the performance of different AGC control topologies. The recommended control topologies have been further improved using sophisticated control techniques like Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) and Fuzzy Logic (FL). Hybrid Fuzzy Logic Proportional Integral Derivative (FLPID) AGC controller has produced outstanding results. The FLPID AGC controller parameters have then been optimised using Multidimensional Unconstrained Nonlinear Minimization function (fminsearch) and Particle Swarm Optimisation (PSO) method. The PSO has been proved to be much superior to fminsearch function. The robustness of the LQR, the fminsearch optimized FLPID and the PSO FLPID optimized AGC controllers has been assessed. The LQR robustness found to be slightly better than the FLPID technique. However the FLPID supercedes the LQR due to the limited number of field feedback signals in comparison to the LQR. Finally, a qualitative assessment of the benefits of the ongoing GCC interconnection project on PDO and OETC has been done through modelling approach. The results proved that the GCC interconnection will bring considerable benefits to PDO and OETC but the interconnection capacity between PDO and OETC needs to be enhanced. However, the application of AGC on PDO and OETC will alleviate the PDO-OETC interconnection capacity enhancement imposed by the GCC interconnection. Sat, 01 Sep 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10149/263268 2012-09-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10149/254616 Title: The common forms of contemporary videogames: a proposed content analysis model Authors: Allick, S. (Steven) Abstract: The aim of this thesis was to investigate trope usage in videogames, including the emergence of undiscovered ‘videogame’ tropes, and to create a new model for videogame categorisation using these tropes. This model serves to complement genre as a means of distilling videogame contents. The investigative work formed two parts, initially considering how videogames use existing rhetorical tropes such as metaphor as expressive and communicative devices and secondly to analyse videogames as a source of shared literary tropes. Each shared literary trope was validated as a common form of expression (referred to simply as 'common form'), where its presence was proven in a substantial sample of videogames. Common forms were gathered through a wide-ranging investigation of ten mainstream genres one at a time and in isolation to arrive at a pool of genre-specific common forms. The most closely related forms combined, with the help of relationship modelling techniques. A set of common forms capable of representing the contents of any videogame was reached. The result is a powerful hierarchical content model allowing a game to be described in terms of its common form usage profile. Common forms can effectively describe games which span several genres and differentiates between games which appear similar on the surface e.g. within the same genre hence aiding effective classification. Common Forms were proven to exist on a number of different hierarchies ranging from those specific to a particular game, to a game type (genre) and even to those which are universal and hence can be observed within any modern videogame. Finally, it was possible to see the very core or 'heart' of the functioning videogame, the never-ending competition between player resources such as energy, ammunition or shields, the 'player status' and the threats, challenges or obstacles the game's systems throw at the player, the 'game status'. The model does have considerable potential for application in educational settings such as college and university game development or appraisal classes and further development and testing would provide an effective tool for industry use. Sun, 01 Apr 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10149/254616 2012-04-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10149/254593 Title: 'Two meane fellows grand projectors': the self-projection of Sir Arthur Ingram and Lionel Cranfield, Earl of Middlesex, 1600-1645, with particular reference to their houses Authors: Roberts, R. J. (Rebecca) Abstract: Arthur Ingram and Lionel Cranfield were part of the early modern phenomenon of social mobility, rising from humble merchants to titled gentlemen in one generation. Cranfield, especially, reached significant heights in a matter of years. Despite the fact both men have merited biographies which chart their commercial and political careers, little attention has been paid to their lives outside of the political sphere leaving room for an analysis of their family and personal estates and the extent to which they utilised their houses in their self-projection. The originality of this thesis lies in its comparison of the two men which not only highlights their dependency on each other and mutual advertisement of each other’s image, but also opens up the question of regional disparity in house building as Ingram’s country estates were situated in Yorkshire whereas Cranfield’s were mainly close to London. The first chapter introduces the issues of social mobility, self-fashioning, and regionality, provides a literature review and explains the methodology employed. Chapter 2 looks at the careers and families of Ingram and Cranfield before examining the ways in which they furthered their ascent through the fashioning of their attire, education and learning, and social networks. The thesis then focuses on the houses of both men, with Chapters 3 and 4 considering how they built and styled their houses. Chapter 5 examines the craftsmen and materials employed by Ingram and Cranfield on their building programmes and in particular the geographical location of their houses. Chapter 6 discusses the way Ingram and Cranfield furnished their residences and how their households were related to the local community, particularly in terms of hospitality. The gardens and grounds that surrounded their houses are the subject of Chapter 7. The thesis concludes with an evaluation of the significance of Ingram’s and Cranfield’s houses in the self-projection of their image and how far the geographical location of their residences affected how successful this was. Sun, 01 Jul 2012 00:00:00 GMT http://hdl.handle.net/10149/254593 2012-07-01T00:00:00Z