A novel emulsion fuel containing aqueous nano cerium oxide additive in diesel–biodiesel blends to improve diesel engines performance and reduce exhaust emissions: Part I – Experimental analysis

Abstract

Improving fuel combustion in engines and consequently reducing environmentallyunfavorable emissions is of prominent importance in addressing some of the main challenges of the current century, i.e., global warming and climate change. Fuel additives are considered as efficient way for improving fuel properties and to diminish engine emissions. In line with this, the present research was focused on the simultaneous application of water (3, 5, and 7 wt%) and cerium oxide nano particles (90 ppm) as metal-based additive into biodiesel/diesel fuel blend (B5) and their impacts on the performance and emission characteristics of a single cylinder four stroke diesel engine were investigated. The findings revealed that the aqueous nano-emulsion of cerium oxide improved the overall combustion quality. More specifically, the brake specific fuel consumption (bsfc) of B5 containing 3% water and 90 ppm cerium oxide (B5W3m) was measured 5% and 16% lower than those of neat B5 and neat B5 containing 3% water (B5W3), respectively. Moreover, the B5W3m fuel blend increased brake thermal efficiency (bte) by over 23 and 11% compared with B5W3 and B5, respectively. B5W3m also considerably reduced CO, HC, and NOx emissions by 51, 45, and 27% compared with B5W3. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report exploring the impacts of low-level water containing cerium oxide in B5 on engine performance and emission characteristics.

A comprehensive review of the influences of nanoparticles as a fuel additive in an internal combustion engine (ICE)

“…The influence of water and nanoadditive in diesel/biodiesel fuel was found to improve the overall combustion quality. The experimental results were in good agreement with that obtained by Khalife et al [68] and Mei et al [69].…”

Experimental Investigation on Performance of a Compression Ignition Engine Fueled with Waste Cooking Oil Biodiesel–Diesel Blend Enhanced with Iron-Doped Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles

“…It has been reported that cerium oxide also aids in burning off carbon deposits within the engine cylinder, hence reducing unburned hydrocarbon (UHC) and smoke emissions. Khalife et al [26] studied diesel engine performance with emulsion fuel containing aqueous nano-CeO 2 additive in diesel-biodiesel blends and recorded improved combustion quality, where the brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) was reduced by up to 16%, the brake thermal efficiency (BTE) improved by up to 23%, while CO, HC, and NO x emissions were reduced by 51%, 45%, and 27%, respectively.…”

Comparative study of using multi-wall carbon nanotube and two different sizes of cerium oxide nanopowders as fuel additives under various diesel engine conditions

“…However, the impact of load on the performance of CeO2 nano additive was not considered. In contrast, Aghbashlo et al [22,23] emulsified biodiesel-diesel-nano CeO2 blends with water for engine test at 1000 rpm speed and varying load. It was found that the emulsions with CeO2 had lower CO, HC and NOx emissions but increased brake thermal efficiency and normalized exergy destruction.…”