Performance Study of Diesel Engine Using Nanofuel

Abstract

Experimental investigation was carried out to study the engine performance and emission parameters of a single-cylinder Compression Ignition (CI) engine using nanofuels which were formulated by sonicating nanoparticles of aluminium in base diesel. Study of engine performance at higher loads revealed drop in peak cylinder pressures and reduction of 7% in specific fuel consumption for aluminium as compared to diesel. Improved combustion rates raised exhaust gas temperatures by 8% leading to increased brake thermal efficiency by 9%, as compared to diesel at maximum loading conditions. Volumetric reduction of 25–40% in CO emission, 8% in hydrocarbon emission was measured when the engine was fuelled with aluminium as compared to emissions from diesel. However, elevated temperatures resulted into marginal rise in NOx emission.