Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis comprises of the development of a facility were spark ignition engine fuels can be tested. Development of the facility included the installation of a standard spark ignition engine, an engine dynamometer, control and monitoring equipment, control and monitoring software, and an in-cylinder pressure measurement setup. The system was tested using petrol as well as a petrol-ethanol blend. The results indicated good accuracy and repeatability of the system. Analysis of the performance and combustion of the petrol-ethanol blend showed no significant difference in comparison to the petrol fuel. The petrol-ethanol blend showed a slight increase in oxygen content and fuel consumption as well as an increase in CO2 emissions and a decrease in CO emissions. During the project, a comparison was also made between the performance of fibre optic transducers and a piezoelectric transducer. It was found that the fibre optic transducers performed similarly to the piezoelectric transducer during low engine load conditions. At high load conditions however, the fibre optic transducers were not able to produce the same accuracy as the piezoelectric transducer. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis bestaan uit die ontwikkeling van 'n fasiliteit waar brandstowwe vir 'n vonkontsteking binnebrandenjin getoets kan word. Ontwikkeling van die fasiliteit sluit in die installering van 'n standaard vonkontsteking binnebrandenjin, 'n enjin rem, beheer en monitering toerusting, beheer en monitering sagteware, en 'n insilinder drukmeting opstelling. Die fasiliteit is getoets met suiwer petrol sowel as 'n petrol-etanol mengsel. Die resultate het hoë vlakke van akkuraatheid en herhaalbaarheid getoon. Ontleding van die werksverrigting en verbranding van die petrol-etanol mengsel het geen beduidende verskil getoon in vergelyking met die suiwer petrol brandstof nie. Die petrol-etanol mengsel het 'n effense toename in suurstofinhoud, brandstofverbruik, sowel as CO2 vrylating en 'n afname in CO vrylating getoon. Tydens die projek is 'n vergelyking getref tussen die akkuraatheid van optiese vesel drukmeters en 'n piësoëlektriese drukmeter. Daar is bevind dat die akkuraatheid van die optiese vesel drukmeters soortgelyk is aan die piësoëlektriese drukmeter gedurende lae enjin lastoestande. By hoë las omstandighede was die optiese vesel drukmeters egter nie in staat om dieselfde akkuraatheid as die piësoëlektriese drukmeter te handhaaf nie.