Experimental investigation on the effects of cerium oxide nanoparticle on Calophyllum inophyllum (Punnai) biodiesel blended with diesel fuel in DI diesel engine modified by nozzle geometry

Abstract

The fuel injector orientation plays a vital role in fuel–air mixing. To achieve, fast and perfect air–biodiesel mixing are the most important requirements in engine research. The mixing quality of biodiesel spray with air can be improved by better design of the fuel injection system. With this, the efficiency of the combustion can be achieved by the addition of cerium oxide nanoparticle (CON), as nanofuel additive catalyst. The diesel engine tests were conducted on a 4-Stroke Tangentially Vertical (TV1) single cylinder Kirloskar 1500 rpm water cooled direct injection diesel engine with eddy current dynamometer. For this purpose, three injectors with different nozzle holes (NH) geometries having spray holes of 3 (base, Ø = 0.280 mm), 4 (modified, Ø = 0.220 mm) and 5 (modified Ø = 0.240 mm) holes, with standard static injection timing of 23° bTDC and modified nozzle opening pressure (NOP) of 250 bar maintained as constant throughout the experiment under steady state at full load condition of the engine using Calophyllum Inophyllum Methyl Ester (CIME) blended with Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) and mixture of CON. The CON was synthesized by chemical method and techniques such as SEM, EDX, and XRD have been used for the characterization. The CON act as an oxygen donating catalyst which provides oxygen for the oxidation of carbon monoxide and absorbs oxygen for the reduction of nitrogen oxides. The effects of CON as the additive on the individual fuel properties, the engine performance, combustion, emissions are studied with different level. The dose of CON is optimized for green environment. The emission levels of hydrocarbon and NOx are appreciably reduced with the addition of CON. The present investigation showed an improvement in brake thermal efficiency, a reduction of brake specific fuel consumption and emission level for NH5 compared to NH3 operated at NOP 250 bar due to better air–fuel mixing and fast evaporation.