Enhancing diesel engine efficiency with waste cooking oil biodiesel and nano additives for sustainable fuel applications
Haiter Lenin Allasi, M. Selvam, Mary Vasanthi Soosaimariyan, Sujin Jose Arul
Abstract
This study investigates the effect of incorporating nano-additives Cerium oxide (CeO 2 ), Zinc oxide (ZnO), and Titanium oxide (TiO 2 ) at 25 ppm concentration into biodiesel derived from waste cooking oil, with the objective of improving diesel engine performance and reducing exhaust emissions. Experiments were carried out on a single-cylinder four-stroke diesel engine under varying load conditions. Among the tested blends, the B20 + TiO 2 (25 ppm) mixture exhibited a modest reduction in brake thermal efficiency (2.53%) and a slight increase in brake specific energy consumption (3.80%) compared to diesel fuel. However, significant emission improvements were achieved, with a reduction in CO (23.42%) and HC (24.78%) emissions, accompanied by a decrease in smoke opacity (12.37%). The findings highlight that TiO 2 nano-additive biodiesel blends offer a sustainable and environmentally viable alternative to conventional diesel. The study is constrained by its emphasis on a particular mixture of biodiesel and nano additives, perhaps limiting the generalisability to different combinations or concentrations. The study largely assesses engine performance and emissions under a singular operating condition, potentially neglecting differences in performance across varied loads or speeds.