Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2009. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains v, 37, [20] p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 35-37).

Thesis (M.S.)--Marquette University, 2009. / Access available to Marquette University only. Scott Goldsborough, John P. Borg, Jon Kock, Henry Curran, Advisors.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--Aberdeen University, 2007. / Title from web page (viewed on July 29, 2009). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1969. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1966. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2005. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2004. / Supervisor: Ronald Matthews. Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Also available from UMI.

Thesis (MScIng)--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / Bibliography. Also available via the Internet.

Compatibility of fuel delivery materials (FDM) with biodiesel fuel in the fuel delivery system (FDS) under real-life common rail diesel engine (CRDE) operation poses a challenge to researchers and engine manufacturers alike. Although standard methods such as ASTM G31 and ASTM D471 for metals and elastomers, respectively, are deemed suitable for evaluating the effects of water content, total acid number (TAN) and oxidation products in biodiesel on FDM degradation, they do not resemble the actual engine operation conditions such as varying fuel pressure/temperature as well as the presence of a wide range of materials in the FDS of a diesel engine. Hence, the current allowable maximum 20 vol% of biodiesel with 80 vol% of diesel (B20) for use in diesel engines to date is debatable. Additionally, biodiesel utilization beyond B20 is essential to combat declining air quality and to reduce the dependence on fuel imports. This thesis aims to elucidate the actual compatibility present between FDM and biodiesel in the FDS under real-life CRDE operation. This was achieved through multi-faceted experimentations which commenced with analyses on the deteriorated palm biodiesel samples collected during and after CRDE operation. Next, the fuel properties which should be emphasized based on the deteriorated fuel were determined. This was then followed by ascertaining the effects of the emphasized fuel properties towards FDM degradation. Ultimately, the actual compatibility of FDM with biodiesel under engine operation through modified immersion investigations was determined. FDM degradation acceleration factors such as oxidized biodiesel, TAN and water content were eliminated since these factors were not affected based on the analysed fuel samples collected after engine operation. No oxidation products such as aldehydes, ketones and carboxylic acids were detected while the TAN and water content were within 0.446% and 0.625% of their initial values, respectively. Instead, the biodiesel’s dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration and conductivity value were not only found to have changed during and after engine operation by -93% and 293%, respectively, but were also found to have influenced biodiesel deterioration under engine operation. These two properties were subsequently discovered to have adversely affected FDM degradation independently. The copper corrosion rate and nitrile rubber (NBR) volume change increased by 9% and 13%, respectively, due to 22% increase in the conductivity value. In contrast, the copper corrosion rate and NBR volume swelling reduced by 91% and 27%, respectively, due to 96% reduction in the DO concentration. Ultimately, copper corrosion and NBR degradation were determined to be lowered by up to 92% and 73%, respectively, under modified immersion as compared to typical immersion condition. These outcomes distinctly show that acceptable to good compatibility is present between FDM and biodiesel under CRDE operation. The good compatibility is strongly supported since only a maximum lifespan reduction of 1.5 years is predicted for metal exposed to biodiesel as compared to diesel for a typical component lifespan of 15 years. For the elastomers, acceptable compatibility is found present between elastomer and biodiesel based on the determined 11% volume change which conforms to the tolerance level of elastomer degradation as stated by the elastomer manufacturers. These are especially true for the evaluated metals and elastomers investigated under the modified laboratory immersion which replicates similar conditions to a real-life CRDE. Overall, this work has contributed to the advancement of knowledge and application of biodiesel use in diesel engines.

The deactivation of a cylinder on a 1.0litre three cylinder turbocharged gasoline engine has been investigated providing novel information on thermal and fuel consumption effects associated with the technology. This comes in light of providing solutions to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions resulting from internal combustion engines. The investigation has been carried out through the PROgram for Modelling of Engine Thermal Systems (PROMETS). A version of PROMETS was extensively developed to characterise a commercially produced TCE not fitted with cylinder deactivation technology. Developments include an improved gas-side heat transfer expression to account for increased heat transfer to coolant due to the addition of an integrated exhaust manifold; addition of an expression to represent natural convection to model heating of quiescent coolant in the block; and a method to estimate the boosted intake manifold pressure past the throttle due to turbocharging on a gasoline engine. The 0-D approach used in this thesis compared to higher resolution computational tools has allowed for thermal and performance predictions to be made within a couple of minutes compared to several hours or days. In effect, PROMETS has been a time and cost effective tool during the development stages of a prototype engine. The PROMETS model indicated that no adverse changes in engine thermal behaviour arose with cylinder deactivation. The largest temperature change of < 400 occurs in the exhaust valve lower stem for the deactivated cylinder. Temperature changes in other components throughout the engine are an order of magnitude smaller. Although the largest temperature differences between the deactivated and firing cylinders were found to be in the range of < 70 , these remain within normal engine operating temperatures of < 100 . Also, by on-setting deactivation past an oil temperature of 40 , warm-up times were marginally extended compared to operation on all cylinders from key-on. Experimental inputs representing changes in engine gross indicated thermal efficiency and the work loss associated with the motoring of a piston complemented modelling work in predicting fuel consumption changes due to deactivation. Reductions in pumping losses account for the majority of the fuel consumption benefit associated with deactivating a cylinder. The main limitation in the employment of cylinder deactivation stems from the deterioration in the gross indicated thermal efficiency. Modelled results show that fuel consumption improvements are highest on low and part load operation envelopes. As such over the NEDC and FTP-75 benefits are in the range of 3.5%. Applying the technology over dynamically loaded cycles such as the WLTC and ARTEMIS, results in benefits of less than 1.6%. Further to modelling work on cylinder deactivation, experimental work has been carried out with the aim of allowing any engine size to be tested to cover transient drive cycles for future research. Future research could be in the aim of investigating technologies to reduce CO2 and emissions resulting from ICEs. Results show that the control solution implemented has allowed eddy-current dynamometers normally used for constant speed and brake load conditions to operate cycles such as the WLTC or any transient brake torque and engine speed pattern. Benchmark fuel consumption values for two engines of differing swept volume are within a 4g error band equivalent to a 0.36% and 0.67% percentage error band demonstrating the excellence of the control system.