Thesis Abstract

<p> In the course of the research, three different<br>designs of oil burners were identified for adoption and<br>the one considered the most viable among the three was<br>carried through the stage of fabrication. Tests were<br>then administered to Justify claims of reliability.<br>The tests involved firing glazed bodies up to 1250°C<br>in five trial runs of 11; hours each. Kerosine was used as<br>the operating fuel in the first three firings and diesel<br>was used for the subsequent firings. Visual inspection,<br>pyrometric cones and the texture and colour of the. glazed<br>bodies were used to assess the success of the experiment.<br>The outcome of the firings could be considered a success<br>as the temperature of stoneware (12500C) was attained in<br>reasonable time (12 hours).<br>However, it is an irony of nature that any solution<br>deviced by man is bound to bring into focus new unexpected<br>problems; thus the pre-heating coil introduced to aid the<br>process of atomisation resulted in the premature<br>decomposition of the fuel component as indicated by the<br>deposition of carbon particles around the burner nozzle.<br>The solution to this problem of carbon deposition will<br>require further studies. <br></p>

Thesis Overview