The influence of acetylene black microparticles as a fuel additive in pure palm oil and its performance characteristic on diesel engine

Abstract

Fuel additives are recognized for their potential to make diesel engines cleaner and more efficient. However, the use of Pure Palm Oil (PPaO) as a fuel faces challenges due to its inherent combustion inefficiencies. This study explores how Acetylene Black (AB), as an additive, affects the combustion performance and spray characteristics of a diesel engine. Observations of spray phenomena were conducted using a High-Speed Camera Phantom C110. The addition of AB to PPaO resulted in an increase in engine power and torque by 11.43 % at a 60 % load, averaging a 2.97 % improvement over diesel fuel (DF). PPaO demonstrated the most significant improvement in Specific Fuel Consumption (SFC) by 17.2 % at a 40 % load, averaging an 8.2 % increase. For PPaO with AB (PPaOAB), the greatest enhancement in SFC occurred at a 10 % load, showing a 9.2 % improvement over DF, with an average increase of 2.1 %. The study also found that thermal efficiency was optimally enhanced with PPaOAB at a 20 % load, achieving a remarkable 17.7 % improvement compared to DF. Notably, the inclusion of PPaOAB significantly reduced the thickness of carbon deposits on the pistons and cylinder head by 51.8 % and 3.9 %, respectively, and improved spray angle and penetration compared to PPaO. These findings suggest that AB could be a promising additive for PPaO, sparking further research interest in the application of AB in other fuels.