Comparative Performance and Emissions of CI Engine Fuelled with Diesel and Blends of Mosambi Peel Pyro Oil, Methanol and Nano Rh2O3 with Diesel

Abstract

This research article presents a comparative experimental study on the performance, exhaust emission and combustion characteristics of a CI engine fuelled with neat diesel and with three kinds of blends viz. MD10 (neat diesel with 10% mosambi peel pyro oil), MDM10 (neat diesel with 10% mosambi peel pyro oil and 10% methanol), MD10+Rh2O3 (neat diesel with 10% mosambi peel pyro oil and nano rhodium oxide fuel additive). The experiments were conducted on a direct injection single-cylinder water-cooled four-stroke diesel engine operated at a constant engine speed of 1500 rpm and under varied brake power conditions. The results showed that MD10+Rh2O3 outperformed the rest in terms of all the performance, emission and combustion characteristics. MD10+Rh2O3 was found to have achieved, 5% higher brake thermal efficiency, 18.5% reduced SFC and 8% reduced exhaust gas temperatures respectively. This fuel has also achieved 10.5%, 5.5%, 9.45%, 11% marginal drop in noxious pollutants such as CO (Carbon Monoxide), unburnt HC (Hydrocarbons), NOx and smoke respectively. Cylinder peak pressures, heat release rate, ignition delay and combustion duration of MD10+ Rh2O3 are recorded to be considerably improved. Thus, using the nanoparticle added mosambi peels pyro oil (NMPPO) blended with diesel as an alternative fuel could impart an eco-friendly, efficient and improved engine operation.