Open Access

Influence of TiO2 Nanoparticles on Engine Parameters at Varied Compression Ratio of CI Engine Fuelled with Biodiesel

V. Hariram, connect2hariram@gmail.com
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, Padur, Chennai, TN, India V. Ramanathan, vramanathan@hindustanuniv.ac.in
Department of Automobile Engineering, Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, Padur, Chennai, TN, India A. John Presin Kumar, johnpk@hindustanuniv.ac.in
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, Padur, Chennai, TN, India J. Allen Jeffrey, jeffyresearch@gmail.com
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Loyola Institute of Technology, Chennai, TN, India R. Christu Paul, rchristu@hindustanuniv.ac.in
Department of Automobile Engineering, Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, Padur, Chennai, TN, India A. Manigandan, manishivamech@gmail.com
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Loyola Institute of Technology, Chennai, TN, India R. Selvakumar, rselvak@hindustanuniv.ac.in
Department of Automobile Engineering, Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, Padur, Chennai, TN, India D. Balaji dbalaji@hindustanuniv.ac.in
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, Padur, Chennai, TN, India

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Abstract

Despite benefits like renewability, biodegradability, non-toxic nature, and reduced pollution emissions, widespread use of biodiesel as a diesel replacement faces obstacles such as lower-energy output, high viscosity, suboptimal atomization, increased density and elevated NO_x emissions. This study emphasizes on comparing and assessing the emission, combustion and performance of a fuel blend made of 20% Chlorella biodiesel and 80% diesel from Chlorella bio-oil, enhanced with titanium oxide nanoparticles. D100, D80CvBD20, D80CvBD20TiO₂50, D80CvBD20TiO₂100, and D80CvBD20TiO₂150 fuel blends are among those examined. Experiments were conducted to assess the emissions, combustion and performance phenomenon at compression ratios of 17, 17.5 and 18. The D80CvBD20TiO₂100 blend demonstrated superior combustion characteristics by achieving the highest peak cylinder pressure (63.45 bar at 18 CR) and heat-release values. The emission analysis revealed that infusing TiO₂ nanoparticles led to a notable reduction in unburnt hydrocarbons by as much as 13% at higher compression ratios. The nano-fuel blends also exhibited higher NO_x with notable decrease in CO emissions, attributed to enhanced oxygen content and elevated combustion temperatures. The blend D80CvBD20TiO₂100 proved to be the most effective and eco-friendly choice due to its prominent reduction in fuel usage and emissions, with the exception of CO₂ and NO_x.

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