Thermal and environmental assessment of Botryococcus braunii green biodiesel with nanoparticles using energy-exergy-emission-sustainability (3ES) analysis in a diesel engine

Abstract

To enhance the characteristics of biodiesel, the inclusion of nanoparticles has been used in recent years. The objective of present study is to analyse a clean, green, environmentally friendly, and sustainable third generation Botryococcus braunii microalgae biodiesel blended with three different nanoparticles, namely lanthanum oxide (La2O3), copper peroxide (CuO2), and cerium oxide (CeO2), in a volumetric quantity of 100 ppm for energy, exergy, and sustainability analysis in a diesel engine system, as well as the emission analysis to determine its impact on the climate. The work comprises a novel comparison based on first and second laws of thermodynamics. A low-displacement, four-stroke, single-cylinder, liquid-cooled, direct-injection engine running at 1500 rpm, 17.5 compression ratio, and injection timing of 23° crank angle bTDC is used for the study. The inclusion of various nanoparticles increases combustion pressure by 8.73–8.82 %, heat release rate by 18.69–24.47 %, NOx emissions by 3.68–30.80 %, energy efficiency by 5.99–7.38 %, exergy efficiency by 0.31–1.79 %, and sustainability by 0.62–0.91 %; however, PM emissions are reduced by 0.99–18.08 % and exergy destruction by 0.61–0.91 % at 100 % loading condition. Future studies will focus on reducing the NOx emissions and energy losses from the engine system.