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Development of an engine testing facility for spark ignition engine fuels

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.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/80043
Date03 1900
CreatorsKenny, Wilhelm Jordaan
ContributorsHaines, Richard Walter, Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering.
PublisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen_ZA
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis
Format116 p. : ill.
RightsStellenbosch University

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