Thesis Abstract

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

Thesis Overview