Title: Effects of nanoparticle additive in the water-diesel emulsion fuel on the performance, emission and combustion characteristics of a diesel engine

Authors: J. Sadhik Basha; R.B. Anand

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli – 620 015, Tamil Nadu, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli – 620 015, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract: The performance, emission and the combustion characteristics of a diesel engine using water-diesel emulsion and alumina nanoparticles blended water-diesel emulsion fuels are investigated experimentally. The experiments are conducted in an experimental set-up consisting of a single cylinder CI engine, and a data-acquisition system comprising a Kistler piezoelectric pressure sensor and a crank angle encoder. The whole investigation is carried out in three parts; using neat diesel in the first part, neat water-diesel emulsion fuel in the second part and alumina nanoparticles blended water-diesel emulsion fuels in the third part. The alumina nanoparticles are blended with water-diesel emulsion fuels in varying mass fractions systematically. The results revealed a significant improvement in the engine performance and reduced harmful pollutants for the alumina nanoparticles blended emulsion fuels compared to that of neat water-diesel emulsion fuel.

Keywords: alumina nanoparticles; water-diesel emulsion fuel; ultrasonicator; diesel engines; engine performance; vehicle emissions; combustion; nanotechnology; air pollution.

DOI: 10.1504/IJVD.2012.048692

International Journal of Vehicle Design, 2012 Vol.59 No.2/3, pp.164 - 181

Received: 25 Jan 2010
Accepted: 20 Jun 2010

Published online: 23 Apr 2013 *

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