Investigation of the Performance of a Diesel Engine Fueled by Biodiesel-Diesel Fuel Mixture With Addition of Nanoparticles

The current work presents the results of an experimental study that is conducted to investigate the effect of nanoparticles added to biodiesel-diesel fuel mixture. Nano-biodiesel-diesel mixture fuels were prepared by adding of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). These nanoparticles were blended with biodiesel-diesel fuel in varying mass fractions using an ultrasonic stabilization. A diesel engine test rig was used to examine the effect of nanoparticles on engine performance and emission characteristics with a constant speed of 2500 rpm and different engine loads. The engine test results indicated that the biodiesel-diesel fuel blend slightly decreased the engine performance and increased its emission characteristics at all tested engine operating conditions. The use of nanoparticles was found to improve all engine performance parameters. Specifically, the maximum emission reduction was obtained at a dose level of 20 mg/l, where considerable emission reduction was observed; NO_x by 14 %, CO by 30 %, and UHC by 34 %. Also, the best of both engine combustion characteristics and performance were reached at a dose level of 40–50 mg/l. Where the reduction in the brake specific fuel consumption was by 16 %, the increase in both the cylinder peak pressure P_max, and maximum gross heat release rate dQ_g/dθ_max. were 4 % and 1%, respectively. Finally, the recommended dose level to achieve a significant enhancement in all engine performance is 40 mg/l.