Experimental investigation on the influence of H2 on diesel engine fueled with Afzelia Africana biofuel – Titanium oxide nanoparticle blends

Abstract

Diesel engines are a major source of air pollution, which is increasingly endangering both the natural and built environments. The use of H2-enrichment with nano-fuel was adopted in this research. The TiO2-nanoparticles- Afzelia-Africanabiodiesel was blended with H2 for use in diesel engine. 25 ppm of TiO2 nanoparticles was admixed with the biofuel and ultrasonicated. After that, H2 was introduced through the intake air at different flowrates. The ratio of H2 to the blended fuels (BNH) is (15:85 vol/vol%). The effects of the blends with H2 on emission/performance characteristics were investigated by evaluating NOx, CO, and HC emissions and brake thermal efficiency-(BTE). Higher BTE blends with hydrogen flowrate of 3 LPM improved the engine performance with lesser emissions. Sample blend with hydrogen flowrates of 3LPM gave the best performance/BTE of 39.4 %.The nano-fuel BN@25 + H2 (3 LPM) recorded the lowest emissions (81, 0.33 and 5 g/kWh) at full load when compared with the diesel (129, 0.63 and 20 g/kWh) in terms of NOx, CO, and HC. The in-cylinder pressure and heat release rates of the biodiesel significantly improved H2 addition to TiO2 -NPs by 10 and 14 % relative to diesel. Therefore, the H2-enrichment with the nano-fuel displayed a positive effect on the engine without further modifications.