Impact of nanoparticle-added biodiesel/ n -octanol blend on combustion parameters of a CRDI diesel engine

Abstract

Reducing vehicle-related environmental pollution can be achieved by utilizing energy effectively and efficiently. For this purpose, the combustion process can be improved by using biodiesel, which is among renewable energy sources in internal combustion engines, along with alcohol and nanoparticles for fuel modification. The novelty of this study is the use of a blend of boron oxide (B₂O₃) and n-octanol with biodiesel, which has been studied very limitedly as a fuel additive in the literature. The test fuels used in this study comprised pure diesel (D100), pure biodiesel (B100), a blend of 95% biodiesel and 5% n-octanol (B95O5), B95O5 with 100 ppm B₂O₃ additive (B95O5B₂O₃100), and B95O5 with 150 ppm B₂O₃ additive (B95O5B₂O₃150). Using these fuels, variations in combustion parameters namely in-cylinder pressure and heat release rate were determined through tests conducted in a common rail direct injection (CRDI) diesel engine under different loads. At 25% load, the highest in-cylinder pressure was achieved with fuel containing 100 ppm B₂O₃. Under these load conditions, the highest heat release was achieved with fuel containing 150 ppm B₂O₃. At 50% load, the highest in-cylinder pressure was achieved with D100, while the highest heat release was achieved with B95O5. At 75% load, D100 showed higher in-cylinder pressure and heat release than the other test fuels. At full load, the B95O5B₂O₃100 test fuel exhibited the highest in-cylinder pressure, while D100 showed the highest heat output. Among the test fuels other than D100, the best combustion performance was achieved with the fuel containing 100 ppm additive. The indicated mean effective pressure value was obtained with the B95O5B₂O₃100 test fuel after the D100 fuel. The results indicate that B₂O₃ nanoparticles can be utilized in a CRDI diesel engine.