Thesis (MScEng (Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis comprises of the testing and evaluation of a modern diesel engine running on both biodiesel and mineral diesel on the upgraded Bio-fuels Testing Facility (BTF) at Stellenbosch University. The project was motivated by the need to install a modern diesel engine onto the existing BTF test rig for biodiesel testing. In this project, the BTF was re-designed to support a new Volkswagen 1.9L TDI engine. The capabilities of the BTF were then expanded further by the implementation of a low-cost pressure indicating system, utilising an optical pressure transducer. During the testing of biodiesel, it was found that the calorific value of the biodiesel was 14% lower than that of the tested mineral diesel. The ignition quality (cetane index) of the biodiesel was also lower than that of the mineral diesel. Even so, the engine only experienced a maximum power loss of 4.2%. During heat-release analysis, it was determined that there was no significant difference in the combustion process of biodiesel and that of mineral diesel. The conclusion could be made that biodiesel is suitable for use in modern TDI engines. Testing validated the operation of the upgraded test cell, and in trials it was determined that the test results are highly repeatable. The pressure indicating set proved to have some limitations. Only simplified heat-release analyses and reasonable indicated power calculations could be performed with the indicating set. Recommendations were made for improvement in future research. / Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies

Ziel der Arbeit war es zum Einen die Eignung der Messung statischer Drücke in unterschiedlichen Größenordnungen mit Hilfe von roter Farbdichtevariation zur direkten Messung des Druckes zwischen Zitze und Zitzengummi beim Melken zu testen. Zum Anderen wurden verschiedene Einflussfaktoren auf diesen Druck analysiert. Dafür wurden Untersuchungen im Versuchsmelkstand unter der Verwendung verschiedener Zitzenmodelle durchgeführt. Der Einfluss verschiedener Anlagenvakua, Pulsationsraten, Pulsphasenverhältnisse und Zitzengummis auf die Zitzenbelastung wurde umfangreich analysiert. Es wurde festgestellt, dass sich die getestete Methode zur direkten Messung des Druckes zwischen Zitze und Zitzengummi eignet. Des Weiteren konnte ein signifikanter Einfluss aller getesteten Faktoren nachgewiesen werden. Die Zitzenbelastung beim Melken nimmt mit ansteigendem Anlagenvakuum, ansteigender Pulsationsrate und ansteigendem Phasenverhältnis zu. Die technischen Eigenschaften eines Zitzengummis, vor allem aber die Form des Zitzengummischaftes, unterscheiden sich signifikant hinsichtlich des von ihnen applizierten Druckes auf die Zitze. In allen Untersuchungen wurde der größte Druck auf das Zitzenende ausgeübt. / The aim of the present thesis was to test whether the measurement of static pressure distribution and magnitude with the aid of red color density variation is appropriate to directly measure the teat load caused by a collapsing liner and to identify different factors influencing this load. Therefore, investigations were carried out in a laboratory milking parlor using different artificial teats. The influence of the machine vacuum, the pulsation rate, the pulsation ratio, and the liner type were analyzed. The present investigations showed that the tested method is appropriate to directly measure the teat load due to liner collapse. A significant effect of all tested factors could be found as well. The higher the machine vacuum, pulsation rate, and pulsation ratio, the higher the teat load caused by a collapsing liner. The technical characteristics of a liner, especially the shape of the barrel, differ significantly with regard to the teat load. In all investigations more pressure was applied to the teat end.