Towards Sustainable Development Goals: Application of Hydrogen-Enriched Mahua Biodiesel/Diesel Blend to Dual-Fuel Diesel Engine

This study investigates the influence of hydrogen (H₂) enrichment on the performance, combustion, and emission characteristics of a dual-fuel diesel engine operated with Mahua biodiesel/diesel blend (BDf20), in which H₂ is injected into the intake manifold at flow rates of 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 L min⁻¹ under varying engine loads. As a result, the optimum engine performance is achieved at 10 L min⁻¹ H₂. At a peak load of 5.02 kW, BDf20 + H₂ (10 L min⁻¹) improves brake thermal efficiency (BTE) by 16.75%, and reduces brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) by 10.83% compared to conventional diesel. For emission characteristics, unburnt hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), and carbon dioxide (CO₂) decrease by 42.65, 44.74, and 20.91%, respectively, although NOx emissions increased by 17.1% due to higher combustion temperatures. Moreover, combustion characteristics show a 9.91% rise in peak in-cylinder pressure, a 20.82% increase in heat release rate, and an 8.26% longer ignition delay period. The results confirm the effectiveness of H₂ enrichment in improving combustion performance while significantly reducing pollutant emissions, showing that combining H₂ with biodiesel enhances the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by advancing clean and renewable energy solutions.