Abstract

The abatement and recession of fossil fuel in the current situation and pollution after its use is a major concern to the people. Biodiesel emerged as an alternative of fossil fuel in the recent past. The properties of biodiesel are better than the diesel fuel and the properties of nanoparticles have fascinated the researchers to use them as additives with the fuel in CI engines due to their better thermo physical and thermo chemical properties. In this comparative experimental study, B10, B20 and B30 biodiesel of rice-bran oil blended with 30PPm Al2O3 nanoparticles and neat diesel as a base fuel were used. Rice-bran BD is prepared after using the transesterification process and ultrasonication process is mixed with Al2O3 nanoparticles. The four-stroke diesel engine acted at 0 kW, 1.5 kW, 2.5 kW, 3.5 kW loads and at a Constant speed of 1500 RPM was used in this study. The optimum results for engine performance and exhaust emission were found for the blended fuels. The blend resulted in maximum improvement in BSFC and BTE by40% and 6.79% respectively at the maximum load (3.5 kW) and 1.5 kW for RB20Al30 and B30 respectively and maximum diminishment of exhaust emissions of CO2 by 7.4% and 2.94% at 0 kW and 1.5 kW loads for B20 and B10. The reduction of NOX by 20.23% (for RB30Al30) and 15.54% (for RB10Al30) at 0 kW and 1.5 kW respectively was achieved. The UBHC got reduced by18.51% (for RB30Al30) and 15.38% (for D100Al30) at 0 kW and 2.5 kW loads.

Keywords: Nanoparticles, Biodiesel, Performance, Exhaust Emissions, CI engine.