Effects of aluminum and copper oxides nanoparticles as fuel additives on diesel engine operating characteristics

Abstract

Nanoparticles possess great potential as an additive to enhance biodiesel physiochemical properties improving diesel engine performance, combustion and emission characteristics to meet global emission restrictions and fossil fuels depletion. This investigation deals with the impacts of biodiesel blends and two oxide-based nano additives, aluminum and copper oxides, on single-cylinder compression ignition engine operating characteristics.Fuel blends were tested over variable engine loads from no load to 80% of the peak load while maintaining speed at 2000 rpm. The results reveal that 10% vol biodiesel (B10) results in only a 1% increase in BSFC with no change in heat release rate (HRR) and lower unburned hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions by 40% and 7%, respectively. Optimal concentrations of aluminum and copper oxides nano additives were specified as 150 and 100 mg/L, presenting a 5% and 3% BSFC reduction with a 5.88% and 1.2% increase in HRR, respectively. DA150 also presents a dramatic reduction in unburned hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxide emissions by 38%, 25%, and 23% compared to 45%, 16%, and 12%, respectively, for Dcu100. In comparison, alumina/biodiesel blend B10A150 improves HRR by 5% with a 4% BSFC reduction and 35% and 31% reduction in unburned hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxides.