Includes bibliographical references (p. 103-109).

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1964. / eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Bibliography: l. 106-110.

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

This thesis reports the investigation of liquid-to-gas and liquid-to-solid phase transitions of liquid hydrocarbon fuels and their ethanol blends, both in the bulk phase and as single droplets. The key point has been to develop an understanding of the fuels' macroscopic behavior by studying them at the molecular and at the single droplet level. A key work in this thesis is the investigation of different ratio ethanol/gasoline blends at the molecular level. At the macroscopic level, the vapor pressure, and hence the evaporation of the blends, is influenced by the strength of intermolecular interactions. Thus, information on the molecular interactions between ethanol and gasoline are inferred by using IR and excess IR spectroscopy. The spectroscopic data suggest that the hydrogen bonding between ethanol molecules is weakened upon gasoline addition, but the hydrogen bonds do not disappear. This can be explained by a formation of small ethanol clusters that interact via Van der Waals forces with the surrounding gasoline molecules. In addition, Raman spectroscopy is performed on the same blends, and the Raman spectra are compared with the IR ones. Two different approaches for data evaluation, with the scope of determining the ethanol content in the blends, are tested and compared: Firstly, the calibration of the intensity ratio of characteristic peaks as function of composition; secondly, a principal component regression (PCR). Both methods are found to have comparable uncertainty. For the evaluation of the Raman spectra, the PCR method yielded better accuracy than the intensity ratio approach. In addition, a detailed investigation of the influence of noise in the signal is presented. When the full IR spectra were evaluated by PCR, even high noise levels did not reduce the measurement accuracy significantly. Later, with the aim of studying the evaporation dynamics of fuel blends, at the single droplet level, electrodynamic balance (EDB) and optical tweezers are used to trap ethanol/gasoline droplets, containing different ethanol percentages. A longer lifetime is observed for droplets containing a greater fraction of ethanol. In order to explain the experimental evaporation trends obtained, a theoretical model is used to predict the evaporation rates of pure ethanol and pure gasoline droplets in dry nitrogen gas. Also a theoretical estimation of the saturation of the environment, with other aerosols, in the tweezers is carried out. Lastly, the liquid-to-solid phase transition of some long chain alkanes, commonly present in diesel or gasoline, is investigated both at the molecular and at the single droplet level. Firstly, by using Raman spectroscopy the solidification of these hydrocarbons in the bulk phase is observed. Distinctive features associating the solid even hydrocarbons to a triclinic structure and the odd ones to an orthorhombic structure can be observed in the spectra. Secondly, the liquid-to-solid phase transition of single hydrocarbons droplets is investigated. Freezing time and surface area resulted to be inversely proportional in dodecane droplets. This might suggest a surface freezing mechanism. Furthermore, differences in the scattering patterns, depending on the freezing mechanism, are pointed out. Droplets freezing homogeneously show a different scattering pattern with respect to droplets that froze heterogeneously.

M.Phil. (Energy Studies) / Liquid fuels provide in a large percentage of South Africa's energy requirements. Because of the vastness of the country no other means of propelling transport could take the place of liquid fuel. South Africa who has for a substantial period found herself being officially cut-off from international crude oil (embargo) and other commodities such as capital, had up to ± 1991 survive this onslaught. Alternatives for the substitution of crude oil derived products (mostly liquid fuels) has been under investigation for many years, internationally as well as locally~ Because of the recent change in the situation, the approach to new investment in this field will now only be effected should it be economically more attractive than investment in the traditional crude oil processes. This study was specifically aimed at, from a South African viewpoint, summarizing various applicable liquid fuel manufacturing processes and related raw material resources, and comparing these processes both from an economic and technological angle with that of crude oil refining. The following resources were investigated: Coal, torbanite, sugar (from sugar cane), natural gas and sunflower seeds. Processes such as coal to fuels (Fischer-Tropsch, coal hydrogenation, solvent extraction), metanol to fuels (MTG-process), metanol ex natural gas (Mobil-M), methanol ex coal, ethanol ex sugar, natural gas to fuels (Fischer-Tropsch, Shell-SMOS), esters (diesel) ex sunflower seeds, fuels ex torbanite via retorting were researched. Aspects covering the availability of resources, degree of commercialisation of processes, product quality and fuel/engine compatibility and general economic and technological guidelines were covered in the study.

Thesis (M.S.)--California Polytechnic State University, 2009. / Title from PDF title page; viewed on January 12, 2010. Major professor: Tryg Lundquist, Ph.D. "Presented to the faculty of California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo." "In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree [of] Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering." "October, 2009." Includes bibliographical references (p. 92-100).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2004. Directed by Ben T. Zinn. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 136-141).

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