Effective utilization of mahua oil blended with optimum amount of Al2O3 and TiO2 nanoparticles for better performance in CI engine.

The current research work focuses mainly on improving the performance and emission characteristics of nanoparticle-blended mahua oil-fueled diesel engine. This work concentrates on finding the optimum quantity of nanoparticles to be blended with mahua oil so that it can be effectively deployed in compression ignition (CI) engine. A 4-stroke diesel engine with 3.7 kW at 1500 rpm was employed in this research. The two nanoparticles, Al2O3 and TiO2, were used in this experiment to blend with mahua oil. The nanoparticles of different concentrations, such as 25, 50, 75, and 100 ppm, were blended with mahua oil to test the performance. Based on the stability, the optimum blend was chosen. The mahua oil was emulsified in order to further enhance the optimum performance of the nanoparticle-blended mahua oil. The nanoparticles act as a combustion enhancer and aggravate the combustion process. The nanoparticle-blended emulsified mahua oil showed better performance and reduced emissions. The brake thermal efficiency (BTE) values of 100 ppm Al2O3 and TiO2 blended emulsified mahua oil (EMO) were 29.2% and 28.4% respectively, while in case of diesel and mahua oil, the values were 31.4% and 23.8% respectively. The smoke value for EMO with 100 ppm Al2O3 and TiO2 was found to have decreased by 61.9% and 59.4% respectively compared with mahua oil. The hydrocarbon (HC) emissions for EMO with 100 ppm Al2O3 and TiO2 were found to have decreased by 37.3% and 32.96% respectively.

A complete assessment on the impact of in-cylinder and external blending of eucalyptus oil on engine's behavior of a biofuel-based dual fuel engine.

This work aims at combusting a high viscous high cetane biofuel completely and efficiently under dual combustion mode using another low viscous low cetane biofuel. Maduca longifolia oil (MO) was selected as the base fuel. Combustion was achieved by using EFI (electronic fuel injection) and carburetion of eucalyptus oil at the intake manifold. Eucalyptus oil was also blended externally with MO at different mass ratios and tested. A comparison of engine results was made at 100% and 40% loads (power outputs) for all the attempts. Test results indicated significant improvement in BTE (brake thermal efficiency) with all modes with moderate energy shares of eucalyptus oil. The BTE increased from 25.2% with neat MO operation to a maximum of 29%, 32.3%, and 33.4% respectively with eucalyptus oil addition, carburetion, and EFI modes whereas it was observed as 30.8% with ND (neat diesel). Smoke was reduced with eucalyptus oil addition, carburetion, and EFI at the maximum efficiency points at 100% load. Peak pressure and energy-release rate indicated as superior to neat MO at all modes mainly at 100% load. Thirty percent, 40.2%, and 30.4% respectively with eucalyptus oil addition, carburetion, and EFI were recommended to be the optimal mass shares for 100% load. EFI of eucalyptus oil could be preferred for the highest BTE, lowest smoke, and NO emissions and maximum replacement of MO for the optimal operation of the engine among the methods tested.

Cleaner emissions from a DI-diesel engine fueled with mahua oil and low carbon ethanol-hydrogen in dual fuel mode.

This work is all about utilization of more than two low carbon fuels in a diesel engine with a main objective of reducing harmful emissions. Initially, test engine was tested with a non-petroleum-based fuel namely mahua oil, under different load conditions. In the second phase of the work, test engine was modified into dual fuel mode with slight modification in the intake manifold for the admission of a low carbon high octane primary fuel namely ethanol. The engine was tested by varying the ethanol energy share (EES) from 5% to the point at which engine tends to knock at 100% and 40% of the maximum engine power output. Finally, an attempt was made to induct a zero carbon high octane fuel (i.e., hydrogen) in the intake manifold of the dual fuel engine operated with mahua and ethanol and tested for the behavior. Experimental results claimed that inclusion of ethanol improved the brake thermal efficiency (BTE) only at the higher loads. Optimized EES at 100% load conditions was identified as 15%. It is found that injection of ethanol significantly reduced the harmful emissions like smoke and oxides of nitrogen at the price of increased hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions. It is also inferenced that BTE was improved further with the increases of hydrogen flow rate at peak load. Interestingly all the carbon-based emissions were drastically reduced with the inclusion of hydrogen. However, the oxides of nitrogen emission were found to be increased with increase of hydrogen flow rate.