Effect of nano additives (titanium and zirconium oxides) and diethyl ether on biodiesel-ethanol fuelled CI engine

The present work is dedicated to the comparative experimental study of biodiesel-ethanol blends in a compression ignition engine using TiO₂ (Titanium oxide) nanoparticle, ZrO₂ (Zirconium oxide) nanoparticle and DEE (Diethyl ether) additives. The test fuels used are a blend of biodiesel (80%) -ethanol (20%) (denoted as BE), a blend of BE with 25 ppm Titanium oxide nanoparticle (denoted as BE-Ti), a blend of BE with 25 ppm Zirconium oxide nanoparticle (denoted as BE-Zr) and a blend of BE with 50 ml Diethyl ether (denoted as BE-DEE). Addition of nanoparticles increases the oxidation rate, reduces the light-off temperature and creates large contact surface area with the base fuel thereby enhancing the combustion with minimal emissions. Experimental results shown that addition of Titanium nanoparticles increased NOx, HC and smoke with lowered BSFC and CO. Whereas addition of Zirconium nanoparticles increases BSFC and HC emissions with lowered CO, CO₂ and smoke emissions in comparison with BE blends. DEE addition to BE blends improved the heat release rate and increased HC, CO emissions were observed with lowered BSFC, NOx and smoke. Simultaneous reduction of NOx and smoke indicates the effect of DEE on Low temperature combustion (LTC).