Influence of Zr₂O₃ nano additives on particle size diameter (PSD), mass fraction burnt (MFB) and engine characteristics of Jatropha biodiesel fuelled DI diesel engine

ABSTRACT

The current work is focused on analysing the influence of zirconium oxide (Zr₂O₃) nano-additives as fuel-borne additives on Jatropha biodiesel fuelled single-cylinder diesel engine. Zr₂O₃ nano-additives were selected on doping fractions of 10 ppm, 20 ppm and 30 ppm and the base fuel chosen is B20 (20% Jatropha biodiesel + 80% diesel fuel). Although several literatures focused on usage of different nano-additives (alumina, cerium, silica, CNT, etc.) at various dosing fractions, there were merely very less works focused on using Zr₂O₃ nano-additives at different doping fractions. Most of the literatures focused only on performance, combustion and emission characteristics, while there is a lack of insight on mass fraction burnt and particle size diameter (PSD) from soot emissions when the test engine is operated at 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% loads. With this strategic conception, the current work is intended to analyse the influence of Zr₂O₃ nano-additives on mass fraction burnt (MFB), particle size diameter (PSD), performance, combustion emission characteristics of a single-cylinder DI diesel engine fuelled with B20 blend (20% Jatropha biodiesel + 80% diesel fuel). Experimental results revealed that, on fuelling B20 blend with 20 ppm Zr₂O₃ nano-additives, BSEC is lowered by 4.87%, BTE is improved by 7.92%, CO, HC, smoke and NO_x emissions were reduced by 11.32%, 5.73%, 6.56% and 9.42%, respectively. Further, 20 ppm Zr₂O₃ nano-additives in B20 resulted in improved pressure, CHRR and HRR of 72.68 bar, 1173.4 J and 76.37 J/°CA which are marginally high in comparison with diesel and B20. Maximum MFB is reported for B20 + 20ppm Zr₂O₃ and least PSD were reported B20 + 20ppm Zr₂O₃ blend throughout the engine load conditions.

KEYWORDS:

• Zirconium
• jatropha biodiesel
• mass fraction burnt
• particle size diameter
• combustion

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Data Availability Statement (DAS)

The data used to support the findings of the study are included within the article.

Additional information

Funding

The authors acknowledge that there are no external funding/grants received for this research work.

Notes on contributors

Harish Venu

Harish Venu obtained his Bachelor degree in Mechanical engineering (2011) and Master degree in IC engines (2013) from Anna University, Chennai. He completed his doctorate in the area of Alternate fuels from Anna University, Chennai in 2018. His research interests include biofuels, alternative fuels, internal combustion engines, nano-additives and fuel cells.

Prabhu Appavu

Prabhu Appavu received his Bachelor degree in Mechanical engineering (2005) from Pondicherry University, Puducherry and Master degree in Energy engineering (2009) from Anna University, Chennai. He is pursuing Ph.D. programme in Mechanical Engineering at Anna University, Chennai. His research areas include biofuels and IC engines.

Dhana Raju V

V Dhana Raju obtained his Bachelor degree in Mechanical engineering (2005) and Master degree in Thermal Engineering (2009) from JNT University, Hyderabad. He completed his doctorate in the area of IC engines from Andhra University, Visakhapatnam in 2018. His research interests include biodiesel, bio-fuels, diesel engines and nano-additives.