ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to dedicate the thesis to Almighty for showering all grace and
blessings in all my success.

I place on record my profound sense of gratitude and sincere thanks to the

authorities of ANNAMALAI UNIVERSITY, for permitting me to undertake this
research work and providing necessary facilities. I convey my warm and sincere
thanks to the respected Administrator, the Registrar and the Dean, Faculty of
Engineering and Technology for their encouragement and support rendered
throughout the period of research.

It is my great and immeasurable pleasure and this becomes priceless

monument to express my deep gratitude to my guide, a pillar of dedication and
devotion Dr. M. Loganathan, Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical
Engineering. His valuable guidance and suggestions throughout my research and
thesis – writing period provided inspiration, encouragement, sound advice and lots of
good ideas. His kind hearted help and enthusiastic guidance for completing this thesis
successfully in good shape inspite of his heavy schedule have provided a good basis
for the research.

I express my sincere thanks to Dr. R. Rathnasamy, Professor and Head of the

Department of Mechanical Engineering, for his kind permission, suggestion, advice
and supervision to do on this thesis.

I warmly thank Prof. A. R. Ramanathan, Former Head of the Department of

Mechanical Engineering, Dr. C. G. Saravanan, Professor of Mechanical Engineering
and Dr. E. James Gunasekaran, Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical
Engineering for their helpful advice, extensive cooperation and interesting directions
given for this study.

My sincere thanks are conveyed to my colleagues Mr. K. Balasubramanian,

Mr.P.Tamilarasan, Mr. K. Syed Jafar, Mr. R. Muthukumaran and Mr. R. Ezhil
Nilavan for their scholarly and perceptive ideas for the enrichment of my thesis.

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 I would like to thank Mr. S.Selvam, ‘B’ Grade Mechanic and other
supporting staff members working in the Internal Combustion Engine Laboratory who
have helped me to place my experimental setup and during my experimentation
process.

I take this opportunity to thank all my friends both teaching and supporting
staff in the Department of Mechanical Engineering.

I am very much thankful to my parents Mr.P. Arunachalam and

Mrs.A.Saraswathy, my wife Mrs.R. Ramya, my son Mr. V. Athiseshan and my

daughter V.Samrutha for the consistent support and cooperation shown by them

during the research period.

A. VELMURUGAN