Experimental investigation of carbon nanotube additives on CRDI engine fueled with Chlorella vulgaris microalgae methyl ester and bio-ethanol blends: performance, emission and combustion characteristics

Abstract

The novelty of this research work deals with the usage of green synthesized nanoadditives (carbon nanotubes) for ternary fuel blends (20% Chlorella vulgaris microalgae biodiesel, 20% bioethanol, and 60% diesel). These fuel blends were tested in a CRDI diesel engine at various load conditions to analyze the combustion, performance and emissions. By increasing from 25 to 100 ppm of carbon nanotubes with ternary fuel blend, the performance of the engine is improved in terms of BTE (9%), BSFC (11.76%) and BSEC (12.79%) compared with diesel. With a TF + 100 ppm CNT fuel blend, HC decreases by 50%, CO decreases by 14%, NOx increases by 13.42% and HRR increases by 23.84% compared to diesel and other blends. From a combustion viewpoint, this fuel blend possesses superior pressure and high HRR with improved MFB. Therefore, TF + 100 ppm CNT could be a future alternative fuel for diesel engines to reduce the fuel dependency by up to 20% without any engine modifications.