Author's Accepted Manuscript: Case Studies in Thermal Engineering
Author's Accepted Manuscript: Case Studies in Thermal Engineering
Author's Accepted Manuscript: Case Studies in Thermal Engineering
PII: S2214-157X(17)30175-2
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csite.2017.11.006
Reference: CSITE236
To appear in: Case Studies in Thermal Engineering
Received date: 21 July 2017
Revised date: 7 November 2017
Accepted date: 12 November 2017
Cite this article as: Miqdam Tariq Chaichan, Abdul Amir H. Kadhum and
Ahmed A. Al-Amiery, Novel Technique for Enhancement of Diesel Fuel: Impact
of Aqueous Alumina Nano-Fluid on Engine's Performance and Emissions, Case
Studies in Thermal Engineering, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csite.2017.11.006
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Novel Technique for Enhancement of Diesel Fuel: Impact of Aqueous Alumina Nano-Fluid on Engine's Performance
and Emissions
1 Energy and Renewable Energies Technology Centre, University of Technology, Baghdad, Iraq.
20185@uotechnology.edu.iq
2 Department of Chemical & Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & Built Environment,
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia. amir8@ukm.edu.my
ABSTRACT
Nanofluids are suspensions of nanoparticles mixed in liquids and show significant enhancement in some thermophysical
and combustion properties of the resulting suspension. In this study, the changes in the performance and emissions
characteristics of a conventional diesel engine are verified experimentally using the combustion of a mixture of nanofluid
(water and Al2O3) and conventional Iraqi diesel fuel. The nano-Al2O3 (51 nm diameter) was used in this study; multiple
weight ratios of this nanoparticle were mixed with water to form a nanoparticle suspension. The weight fractions used were
1, 3, 5, 7, and 10%. After that, a fixed volume ratio of the resulting suspension (10%) was added to the diesel and
completely mixed. The results indicate that the addition of the nano-alumina-water suspension has increased the brake
thermal efficiency up to 5.5%, and reduced the relative fuel consumption up to 3.94%, compared to diesel fuel. In the
analysis of emitted exhaust emissions, CO, HC, NOx, PM and noise emissions, they were found to be lower than diesel fuel,
while CO2 emissions increased.
Keywords: diesel engine, engine emissions, aqueous alumina nano-fluid, Additive, nitrogen oxides, particulate matters.
INTRODUCTION
Compression ignition engines are widely used in automobiles, trains, construction equipment, and marines
because of their efficient and reliable economy [1]. As with any oil derivative, the future of this material has become
dubious because oil reserves are falling faster than expected due to high population growth and the need for greater energy
use [2]. Many threats, such as global warming, ozone hole, and climate change, have prompted many governments to issue
strict regulations on pollutants emitted from these engines, creating an urgent need for renewable fuel [3].
The concept of using diesel-water emulsion has become the focus of researchers in recent years. The use of such
emulsions in compression ignition engines drives to improve engine performance, reduce emissions, and reduce fuel
consumption [4]. Several improvements have been reported in the use of fuel emulsions, such as reduced fuel consumption,
improved combustion to be more complete and significantly reduced exhaust emissions [5 & 6]. The use of a water-diesel
emulsion is also an effective way to reduce nitrogen oxides, and particulate matters (PM) emissions as explained in
References [7 and 8]. Nanoparticles (at least one of their main dimensions smaller than 100 nanometers) are mixed with
liquids to form a nanofluid. Nanofluids have been shown to have enhanced thermophysical properties as thermal
conductivity, thermal diffusion, viscosity, and convective heat transfer coefficient compared with base fluids such as oil or
water [9 and 10]. References [11 & 12] clarified that the thermal conductivity of a nanofluid is increasing with the increase
of volumetric fraction of nanoparticles in the suspension.
Metals such as aluminum (Al) and oxides such as alumina (Al2O3) are characterized by high combustion cards
and have always been used as additives in warm fuel and explosives [13]. The production, monitoring and characterization
of nanomaterials of multiple sizes have been made possible by recent advances in nano-science and technology.
Nanomaterials have shown enormous advantages over micron sizes materials. The high surface area of metallic
nanoparticles causes short bursts of ignition, which reduces the combustion time and results in a more complete combustion
than the use of micro-particles [14 and 15]. Adding nanomaterials to fuel to enhance its combustion is an interesting
concept. The high energy density of metals, especially aluminum, enhances the production of energy in engines and thus
reduces the consumption of liquid fuels, and reduces emissions such as carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Adding
nanomaterials to fuel shortens ignition delay period and improves fuel oxidation by catalytic effect. However, studies on
ignition behavior and combustion of liquid fuels with nanoparticles are still rare to date [16 and 17].
Tyagi et al. [18] studied the ignition properties of diesel fuel using a hot plate; also, they studied the implications
of adding small amounts of aluminum and aluminum oxide particles. The results manifested that the ignition potential of
fuel mixtures containing nanoparticles was much higher than that of pure diesel. The study showed that the adding n-Al to
1
diesel fuel increased the fuel consumption in comparison to diesel fuel alone. With aluminum volume fractions of 0, 0.1,
and 0.5%, hot plate drops were having a much higher ignition potential regardless of nano-aluminum particles size or shape.
References [19 & 20] have conducted experimental investigations with aluminum hydroxide and graphene
sheets in nitro-methane (NM) monopropellant. These studies indicated higher burning rates (×1.75 for graphene sheets).
Ref. [21] used nano-aluminum (n-Al) with gelling agent as additives in NM; which resulted in increasing the burning rates
and reducing the fuel consumption. The nano particles in the suspended fuel have the ability to ignite optically, which result
in a distributed ignition inside the combustion chamber [22]. This paper is focused on evaluating the effect of adding
aqueous alumina nano-fluid additive on multi-cylinder compression ignition engine performance and emissions like CO2,
CO, NOx, unburned hydrocarbons, particulate matter (PM) and noise emissions. The results were compared with that of
applying conventional Iraqi diesel fuels without additive.
The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the improvement in combustion and a better understanding of
n-Al2O3 oxidation in a heterogeneous multivariate system.
EXPERIMENTAL SETUP
1- Equipment
The experimental engine under study works is direct injection (DI), water cooled, with four-cylinder, in line,
natural aspirated diesel Type FIAT. The main specifications of which are listed in Table 1. The engine is coupled to a
hydraulic dynamometer that subjected load on the engine by increasing torque.
Nitrogen oxides, unburned hydrocarbons, CO2, and CO concentrations were measured using the Multigas 4880
emission analyzer. The gases from the exhaust pipe interred the analyzer from a probe, where they are first separated from
any accompanied moisture using condensate capacitors, and then they transfer to the measuring cells. A beam of infrared
ray (created by the transmitter) is sent through optical filters on the measured elements. Gases (which are contained in a
measuring cell) absorb different wavelengths of the light beam according to their concentration. Hydrogen, N 2 and O2
gasses do not absorb the emitted rays due to their molecular composition (as they have the same number of atoms).
Therefore, the concentrations of these gases are not measured by infrared rays. Carbon dioxide, CO, and HC,
because of their molecular composition, absorb infrared radiation at specific wavelengths (absorption spectra). The analysis
device contains a chemical sensor type to measure the oxygen levels. The sound pressure was measured using a precision
sound level meter supplied with a microphone type 4615 Italy made, and measures the overall sound pressure level in
disciple units (dP). The device has been calibrated using a standard Pisto phone 4220 calibrator. Many specialized devices
can be used measure the variable PM concentrations using several categories that depends on the use of the properties
related to the size of particles, such as the viability of electric mobility, molecule diameter, the effect of inertial force and
mass, and the block spectrum. In this study AEROCET (USA made) was used to measure the total suspended particles
(TSP). This device was calibrated and has an uncertainty of 0.2% and measures the particulate matters sizes from 5 to 250
µg/m3.
2- Analysis
The following equations were used in calculating engine performance parameters:
Brake power (kW):
√
̇
2
̇
4- Experimental procedure
Experiments always start by heating the engine until cooling water and lubricating oil reach approximately 80°C.
Tests were done to evaluate engine performance and emissions utilizing different engine variables strategies as well as
adding aqueous aluminum nano-fluid additive to diesel fuel effect on these strategies. The first experiments were performed
on diesel engine alone to provide basic data for comparison. Then, 1%, 3%, 5%, 7% and 10% of aqueous aluminum
nanofluid-diesel fuel blends were also tested.
In the first set of experiments, the engine was operated at 1500 rpm and the design injection timing of 38°BTDC.
The load on the engine was changed from no-load to full-load for all tested emulsions. In the second set of tests, the engine
speed was changed between 1250 and 2500 rpm at intervals of 250 rpm with the subjected load on the engine at a fixed
medium load of (44 kN / m2) and the fuel injection angle was fixed at 38º BTDC during these tests.
The use of any emulsion will leave traces within the fuel system, which affects the output of the engine when
using other emulsions with a different aqueous aluminum concentration. To prevent this from happening, before each test
for a new emulsifier, the fuel tank is discharged and the fuel lines were cleaned. Also, the engine was allowed to work for
15 minutes to clean the fuel system completely from the effects of the previous fuel. After the engine worked long enough
to reach its stability conditions, the data were collected for the engine performance and exhaust emissions. Each test was
repeated 3 times to achieve the iterative and repeatability and their averages were taken. The accuracy of measured
parameters is shown in Table 2.
5- Error analysis
Certainly all measurements have a certain degree of uncertainty coming due to a variety of factors. The uncertainty
assessment process associated with the measurement result is often measured using calibration analysis or can be called the
error analysis. The measured uncertainty value includes an evaluation of the confidence degree associated with the used
device. The experimental accuracies of the measuring devices that were used in present study are shown in table 2.
The uncertainty in the results is calculated by the equation [23]:
3
[( ) ( ) ( ) ]
where:
: Uncertainty in the results
R : a given function of the independent variables V1, V2, …, Vn or R=R(V1, V2, …, Vn).
ei : uncertainty interval in the nth variable.
The partial derivative is a measure of the sensitvity of the result to a single variable.
The uncertainty for present tests was:
[( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ( ) ]
4
the high thermal capacity of water, and the presence of nanoparticles. These combined parameters reduce the maximum
temperature in the combustion chamber and as a result reduces the nitrogen oxides emitted.
There are significant reductions of PM concentrations with adding aqueous N-Al2O3 to neat diesel fuel, as Fig
1h shows. The reductions were 0.0047%, 6.47%, 11.05%, 25.29% and 37.64% for aqueous N-Alumina fractions of 1, 3, 5, 7
and 10% respectively. This reduction could be due to the micro-explosion presence by water vapor in the combustion
chamber; and there is an enhancing of OH radicals during the combustion inside combustion chamber which agreed with
Ref’s [30, 31, 32].
Fig. 1i indicates the aqueous N-Al2O3 addition to diesel fuel effect on engine noise. Adding N-Al2O3 increases
engine noise by 0.0054%, 0.0062%, 1.19%, 1.46% and 2.19% for 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10% of N-Alumina-diesel fuel blends. The
results show that the engine noise increments were limited. These increments were due to power increase accompanied with
N-Al2O3 addition.
CONCLUSIONS
In this study, the performance and pollutant pollutants of a diesel engine with emulsion fuel were examined by adding nano-
alumina emulsion to diesel. The followings are the conclusions of this investigation:
1. Adding aqueous N-Al2O3 to diesel reduced the specific fuel consumption compared to neat diesel for all subjected
loads when the engine was run at fixed speed. Besides, the engine brake thermal efficiency for the studied
emulsion was higher than the conventional diesel for all the studied loads.
5
2. The use of aqueous N-Alumina-diesel emulsion reduced the carbon monoxide and HC levels in the exhaust gas
compared to neat diesel. Also, NOx and PM concentrations were lower at the same conditions. The addition of
aqueous N-Al2O3 to neat diesel increased engine noise, at variable loads and constant speed.
3. CO2 concentrations increased with adding aqueous N-Alumina to diesel due to reductions in CO and HC
concentrations.
4. Adding aqueous N-Al2O3 to diesel fuel and running the engine at variable speed and constant load indicated
improvements in engine performance as the brake power increased and the brake specific fuel consumption was
decreasing. Also, high reduction in CO, HC and NOx levels was done. Higher CO2 and lower PM concentrations
and engine noise were observed.
5. The results showed that increasing aqueous N-Alumina concentrations will expand its effects.
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Table 1, Tested engine specifications
Engine type 4cyl., 4-stroke in line
Engine model TD 313 Diesel engine rig
Combustion type DI, water cooled, natural aspirated
Displacement 3.666 L
Valve per cylinder two
Bore 100 mm
Stroke 110 mm
Compression ratio 17
Fuel injection pump Unit pump, 26 mm diameter plunger
Fuel injection nozzle Hole nozzle
10 nozzle holes
Nozzle hole dia. (0.48mm)
Spray angle= 160o
Nozzle opening pressure=40 Mpa
8
NOTATIONS
9
Fig. 1a, aqueous N-Al2O3 volume fraction Fig. 1b, aqueous N-Al2O3 volume fraction
addition effect on bsfc for variable loads addition effect on brake thermal efficiency for
variable loads
Fig. 1c, aqueous N-Al2O3 volume fraction Fig. 1d, aqueous N-Al2O3 volume fraction
addition effect on exhaust gas temperature for addition effect on CO2 concentrations for variable
variable loads loads
Fig. 1e, aqueous N-Al2O3 volume fraction Fig. 1f, aqueous N-Al2O3 volume fraction addition
addition effect on CO concentrations for variable effect on HC concentrations for variable loads
loads
10
Fig. 1g, aqueous N-Al2O3 volume fraction addition Fig. 1h, aqueous N-Al2O3 volume fraction addition
effect on NOx concentrations for variable loads effect on PM concentrations for variable loads
Fig. 1i, aqueous N-Al2O3 volume fraction addition effect on Fig. 2a, aqueous N-Al2O3 volume fraction addition
engine noise for variable loads effect on brake power for variable engine speeds
Fig. 2b, aqueous N-Al2O3 volume fraction addition Fig. 2c, aqueous N-Al2O3 volume fraction addition effect on
effect on bsfc for variable engine speeds exhaust gas temperatures for variable engine speeds
11
Fig. 2d, aqueous N-Al2O3 volume fraction addition effect on Fig. 2e, aqueous N-Al2O3 volume fraction addition effect on
CO2 concentrations for variable engine speeds CO concentrations for variable engine speeds
Fig. 2f aqueous N-Al2O3 volume fraction addition effect on Fig. 2g, aqueous N-Al2O3 volume fraction addition effect on
HC concentrations for variable engine speeds NOx concentrations for variable engine speeds
Fig. 2h, aqueous N-Al2O3 volume fraction addition effect on Fig. 2i, aqueous N-Al2O3 volume fraction addition effect on
PM concentrations for variable engine speeds engine noise for variable engine speeds
12