Experimental Investigation of Performance and Emission Characteristics of Diesel Blended with Palm Methyl Ester Along with Alumina Nano-Additive Using D.I. Diesel Engine

Abstract

In recent years, a crisis in the availability of energy is there with two important reasons, among which a population stretch becomes the major reason and another important reason is continuous consumption of fuels leading to the reduction in fossil fuels. Atmosphere consists of various harmful pollutants in which the burning of fossils fuels becomes a major contributor to it. To reduce these harmful pollutants, severe research for an alternate fuel is made which in turn leads to biodiesel as a good alternate fuel for the usage in CI engine. A biodiesel has healthier properties than those of diesel fuel such as renewable, eco-friendly, non-toxic and basically free of sulphur. In this experimental investigation, a trans-esterified biodiesel, namely palm oil methyl ester is blent with neat diesel with and without addition of nano-alumina additives is prepared, and it is fuelled in D.I. diesel engine. Then, the characteristic of performance, combustion and emission of the tested fuel along with the neat diesel is measured. The trans-esterified palm oil is blended with diesel by the proportion of B10, B10A30, B60 and B60A30 in volume percentages. At various load conditions, the investigational study is carried out by biodiesel blends with and without nano-alumina additives. Brake thermal efficiency is improved with B10A30 sample in comparison with the neat diesel and blends without addition of nanoparticles. The specific fuel consumptions of B10A30 nanoparticle blend are almost similar to that of the normal diesel and better than that of the blend without nanoparticle. With the addition of nanoparticles, the unburned HC emission is decreased and shows a good result for B10A30 sample. At lower conditions, the CO emission seems par against diesel while at the higher load conditions, carbon monoxide emission is getting increased for all the prepared blends in comparison with diesel. NOx emission has been decreased with B10A30 sample when it is compared with all other blends and diesel fuel. Hence the improvement in emission and performance characteristics, the blend of diesel and biodiesel up to 10% in volume along with the addition of nano-alumina particles is preferred when compared to neat diesel and all other prepared blends.