Experimental Investigation of Performance, Emission and Combustion Characteristics of a Di-diesel Engine Fuelled with Aqueous Cerium Oxide and Aqueous Aluminium Oxide Nanoparticle Additives

Abstract

Experiments were conducted to determine the engine performance and emission characteristics of Direct Injection (DI)—diesel engine using aqueous cerium oxide nanoparticles (ACONP) and aqueous aluminium oxide nanoparticles (AAONP) as an additive in diesel, ethanol and surfactant blended fuel and were compared with diesel fuel. Blends were prepared by in proportions of Diesel 83%, Ethanol 15% and Surfactant 2% (Span 80) with 50 and 75 ppm aqueous cerium oxide and aqueous aluminium oxide nanoparticles as an additive, denoted as ACONP50, ACONP75, AAONP50 and AAONP75, respectively. The blends are prepared by uniform mixing of nanoparticles with the help of an ultrasonicator. Nanoparticles were acted as an oxygen-donating catalyst which improves the combustion process and results in complete combustion. This will also reduce the hydrocarbons (HC) and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions. It was observed that there is a significant enhancement of performances and decrease of exhaust emissions HC, CO, smoke, slight increase in nitrogen oxides (NOX) as compared to diesel fuel. The combustion parameters like cylinder pressure and heat release rates are increased for both nanoparticles as an additive which has been compared with pure diesel.