A Review on the Effects of Nanolubricant Addition into Lube Oil on the Performance of Spark Ignition Engines

Abstract

Every year there is a rise in energy demand due to the rapid development in industrializationand automotive sector, demand and depletion of fossil fuels, fuel price instabilities, diminished energysecurity, uncertainty in oil supply to the consuming nations, fuel import costs, increased harmfulenvironmental effects due to various pollutants are the main driving forces to search for new alternativefuels that are renewable, eco–friendly and harmless in nowadays. Most researchers have focused ondeveloping a wide range of renewable energies including oxygenated fuels, biofuels, fuel cell, and solarenergy technologies to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and control the emission of greenhouse gasesto emit the atmosphere. The novel application in transportation and power generation sectors has showndevelopment in the past decades to ensure a low emission level, energy savings, and high performance andefficiency. A new research area grows rapidly which is called nanotechnologies are considered nowadaysone of the most recommended choices to solve the problem of the production and use of energy.Nanotechnology can be used to improve the efficiency and performance of both of conventional andrenewable resources and also fuels. Nanofuels consist of a nano–sized metal particle having size rangingfrom 1 to 100 nm is mixed inside the base fluid by means of ultrasonication process. The nano fuel additivehas a higher surface to volume ratio and act as a catalyst that results in enhanced characteristics of fuelsand oils which leads to enhanced performance and combustion characteristics of internal combustionengines. This review study investigates the effects of nanolubricant addition into lube oil on theperformance of spark ignition engines.