Recent advancements, applications, and technical challenges in fuel additives-assisted engine operations
Muhammad Ali Ijaz Malik, M.A. Kalam, Muhammad Mujtaba Abbas, A.S. Silitonga, Adeel Ikram
Abstract
• Emerging trends for fuel additives-assisted engine operations have been presented. • Biodiesel characteristics and their impact on engine performance have been characterized. • The impact of fuel additives on sustainability has been discussed. • NPs blending in the base fuel can result increase in BTE up to 25%. • Future research directions for engine performance optimization have been proposed. The rise in technology and population has led to an increase in automobiles and the consumption of fossil fuels. Engine power comes from converting the chemical energy of fuel into work during fuel combustion. Scientists are working to improve engine output by using modifications like fuel injection systems, varying compression ratios, electronic ignition systems, and valve timing systems. However, stringent emission regulations are hindering these advancements in response to ecological challenges. Fuel combustion is linked to greenhouse gas emissions, climate change, global warming, air pollution, and health problems on a large scale. The consumption of fossil fuel resources directly correlates with the population and the welfare of society. The trend toward electric vehicles poses a threat to the use of waste biomass resources. However, biofuels are necessary due to their role in recycling waste biomass sources. The main obstacle to large-scale use of biodiesel fuels in diesel engines is their lower energy content, poor atomization, higher density, and viscosity. These biodiesel characteristics result in higher fuel consumption and NOx emissions due to lower thermal efficiency. Fuel additives are chemical compounds that can help optimize engine power and emissions. Fuel additives can be blended with base fuel, either diesel fuel or biodiesel fuel, to improve the thermo-physical properties of fuel and combustion, leading to lower fuel consumption, less engine wear, prevented failure, and optimized performance in cold weather. According to literature review, blending nanoparticles with fuel generally increases BTE from 1 to 25%, except for magnesium and carbon nanotube additives, which can reduce BTE by up to 4.8%. Hydrocarbon emissions generally decrease from 4 to 60%, while NOx emissions generally decline from 4 to 45%, except for manganese, aluminum oxide, silicon dioxide, and carbon nanotubes. This review article comprehensively discusses fuel additives for their potential applications in automotive, making it easier for researchers and manufacturers to select fuel additives for specific purposes. The main objective of this review is to compare the performance and physicochemical properties of multiple fuel additives with biodiesel (base fuel) to extract maximum benefits from biofuels.