Thesis (M.Eng.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 1999. / Bibliography: leaves 97-101.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2006. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 95-97). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.S.)--Florida State University, 2006. / Advisor Juan C. Ordonez, Florida State University, College of Engineering, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed Sept. 19, 2006). Document formatted into pages; contains x, 267 pages. Includes bibliographical references.

No description available.

This thesis presents an investigation of the influence of turbocharging on the performance and combustion behaviour of a dual fuelled, spark-ignition engine fuelled with natural gas and gasoline. The investigation was carried out using a combination of experimental and analytical methods. The experimental data was obtained from an instrumented, four cylinder, Toyota engine mounted in a test cell. An electrically driven Roots blower was used to provide compressed air to the engine, and a restriction was placed in the exhaust pipe to simulate the effects of an exhaust-driven turbine. Cylinder pressure data were recorded and analysed using a computer routine in order to provide information on mass burning rates and burning velocities. Computer routines were also developed to simulate the compression, combustion and expansion processes in the engine. It was found that the laminar burning velocity of natural gas is 50% to 60% lower than gasoline, under engine-like conditions of temperature and pressure. Mass-burning rate analyses of measured cylinder pressure data showed that the lower burning velocity of natural gas has its greatest influence during the ignition delay period (up to 1% mass burned) and that it can cause increases in ignition delay of between 50% and 100% relative to gasoline. It was observed that the low burning velocity of natural gas also affects the main combustion period, but to a much lesser extent, increasing it by up to 10% relative to gasoline. It was concluded that the main combustion period is dominated by turbulence effects and that it is relatively unaffected by variations in fuel type, air/fuel ratio or boost pressure. Results from the engine tests and simulation program indicated that it is possible to recover the power loss experienced by an engine running on natural gas by boosting the intake pressure to 3 psig (20 kPa) above that provided when the engine is running on gasoline. This increase in boost pressure does not significantly reduce the efficiency or raise the specific fuel consumption. It was found, however, that the peak cylinder pressures attained can be as much as 20% higher on natural gas than on gasoline at the same power level. / Applied Science, Faculty of / Mechanical Engineering, Department of / Graduate

Recent failures of large induction machines due to rotor bar breaks have become a major industrial concern in South Africa. These failures have occurred while applying current condition monitoring methods. This would imply that current theories are either inadequate or badly implemented. This thesis investigates two currently used condition monitoring strategies which focus on monitoring the stator current and axial vibration to detect bar breaks as well as a third method which involves putting destructive shaft voltages to good use and using this signal to diagnose rotor defects. This document begins by familiarizing the reader with two conventional approaches which involve monitoring the stator current and the axial vibration to detect rotor bar breaks. Thereafter the origins of shaft voltage are discussed and its use as a condition monitoring tool is first theoretically derived and then validated by finite element simulations. A thorough discussion of the measurement equipment required is presented and ultimately the performance of these three methods is tested by means of a laboratory measurement as well as two on-site measurements. The results from these measurements suggest that when making proper use of both conventional condition monitoring methods, these methods have a 50% success rate in the detection of rotor bar breaks. The alternative method investigated, which involves monitoring the shaft voltage, has a 75% success rate in the detection of rotor bar breaks. This highlights the use of shaft voltage as a condition monitoring tool. / Dr. S. R. Holm Prof. W. A. Cronje

A microprocessor control scheme for variable speed switched reluctance motor(SRM) drives is discussed. A particular implementation derived from first principles of the SRM is presented. The Intel 8088 microprocessor is used for the design implementation. It is shown that given the control requirements of the SRM like firing different phases according to rotor position and phase currents, a microprocessor controller is a good choice. The controller is economical since it uses standard TTL chips. The slow response at low speeds is also discussed. Experimental results performed on a static inductive load using a simulated position feedback are presented, showing how the current control available at lower speeds is lost at higher speeds, due to limited dc bus voltage. A listing of the controller software with adequate comments and the circuit diagrams are appended. / Master of Science

No description available.

published_or_final_version / Electrical and Electronic Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Electrical and Electronic Engineering / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy