International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology (IJMET)

Volume 9, Issue 2, February 2018, pp. 791–798, Article ID: IJMET_09_02_083

Available online at http://www.iaeme.com/IJMET/issues.asp?JType=IJMET&VType=9&IType=2
ISSN Print: 0976-6340 and ISSN Online: 0976-6359

© IAEME Publication Scopus Indexed

PERFORMANCE AND EMISSION

CHARACTERISTICS OF DIESEL ENGINES
WITH Al2O3 AND CuO NANOPARTICLES AS
ADDITIVES
J Venkatesu Naik
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
Sri Padmavati Mahila Visva Vidyalayam, Tirupati, India

K Kiran Kumar
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
National Institute of Technology Warangal, Warangal, India

ABSTRACT
This main objective of this paper is to check the suitability of nanodiesel as CI
engine fuel. Experiments are conducted on four stroke, single cylinder CI engine with
diesel and nanodiesel. Two nanodiesels diesel+Al2O3 and diesel+CuO are chosen for
study at the fixed concentration of 0.006% by wt. The effect of addition of
nanoparticles on engine performance and exhaust emissions are studied. Among all
the fuels Al2O3 nanodiesel exhibits better performance. The participation of
nanoparticles in combustion enhances the engine performance and reduces the CO,
HC & NOx emissions. Due to addition of nanoparticles, BSFC is reduced by 1.4% for
Al2O3 nanodiesel and 0.65% for CuO nanodiesel. Further, by using Al2O3 nanodiesel,
HC, CO and NOx emissions are reduced by 13.3%,12.17% and 8.75%, respectively
whereas for CuO nanodiesel HC,CO and NOx emissions reduction is limited to
6.3%,7.11% and 2.6%, respectively.
Key words: BSFC, engine torque, nanodiesel, HC,CO & NOx emissions
Cite this Article: J Venkatesu Naik and K Kiran Kumar, Performance and Emission
Characteristics of Diesel Engines with Al2O3 and CuO Nanoparticles as Additives,
International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Technology 9(2), 2018, pp.
791–798.
http://www.iaeme.com/IJMET/issues.asp?JType=IJMET&VType=9&IType=2

1. INTRODUCTION
In the present scenario, rapid growth in industrialization and population increases energy
consumption every day. For the past seven decades, majority of humankind energy demands
are fulfilled by fossil fuels. Utilization and/or consumption of these fossil fuels with this
present rate may results towards fuel crisis. Already, part of the world experiencing it. Apart
from this, emissions such as hydrocarbons (HCs), particulates, nitrogen oxides (NOx),

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 J Venkatesu Naik and K Kiran Kumar

Sulphur oxides (SOx) Carbon monoxide (CO) and Carbon dioxide (CO2) are important
reasons behind global warming and acid rains. So, from the past few decades, researchers
focused to address these issues by various means such as, exploring alternative sources,
substitute fossil fuels with alternate fuels or improving the energy efficiency of the systems
and the combination of above techniques. Though, exploring alternative sources are looking
attractive, they are little far from the commercialisation due to the cost involvement. So, there
is an immediate need to suggest an alternative to the current automobiles which are running
with fossil fuels.
Among all fossil fuel operating systems, diesel engines are more in number widespread to
different fields such as heavy duty applications like power generators, agricultural pumps,
transportation industry etc. So, the researchers are made efforts to reformulate diesel without
changing the physicochemical properties of the fuel such as viscosity, flash and fire point,
cloud point etc. [1] . In this direction, a new class of fuels called nanodiesel (nanoparticles are
suspended in diesel fuel) is proposed in the recent years. The metallic oxides of nanoparticles
like CuO,Tio2 and Al2O3 acts as catalyst during combustion. Hence, adding of these particles
increases in diesel expected to be increase the combustion efficiency there by reduces air
pollution [2–10].
Several studies reported in open literature on use of metal or metal oxide based nanodiesel
which increases the performance of diesel engine. Sabourin et al. [3] experimentally
investigated the effects of nano structured particles on nanodiesel combustion. They
considered liquid nitro methane with metal oxides of silicon dioxide (SiO2) and Al2O3 as
nanofluids. They analysed that with increase of nanoparticle surface area and nanoparticle
concentration, burning rate is increased. Kao et al. [5] did experiments on a single cylinder
naturally aspirated diesel engine. They used Al nanoparticles for the nanodiesel preparation
and observed improvement in the brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) at the engine
speeds less than 1800 rpm. They also observed that reduction in NOx emission at a particular
nanoparticle concentration.
Selvaganapthy et al. [11] done experiments on single cylinder four strokes vertical water
cooled diesel engine by using ZnO based nanodiesel. They concluded that ZnO based
nanodiesel increases thermal efficiency with increase of particle concentration. However, it is
reported that NOx emissions increases. Gan and Qiao [9] done experiments to investigate the
combustion characteristics of different nanofluids. Al particles are added to the base fuel by
varying its size and concentration. They reported that by adding higher energy density of
metal nanoparticle to the base fuel, increases power output and reduces the CO2 and NOx
emissions. Similar to the above studies Leninet al. [12] used magnesium oxide (MnO) and
CuO based nanodiesel, Mehta et al. [13] used iron, aluminium and boron nanoparticles
blended with diesel. Ozguret al. [14] used Nine different nanoparticles namely SiO2, Al2O3,
MgO, TiO2, ZnO, iron oxide (Fe2O3), nickel iron oxide (NiFe2O4), nickel oxide (NiO), and
nickel zinc iron oxide (Zn0.5Ni0.5Fe2O4) were added to diesel fuel and results are reported.
From the literature survey it is concluded that addition of nanoparticle in base fuel
enhances the properties of the fuel. Hence theses are used as fuel for internal combustion
engines. Using of this nanodiesel in IC engine results increment in performance in terms of
torque and BSFC and reduction in the pollutant emissions. However, experimental studies on
nanoparticle based diesel fuels are limited and contradictory. So an attempt is made to
experimentally investigate the suitability of metal oxide based nanodiesel as a fuel. In the
present work Al2O3 and CuO nanoparticles are used for nanodiesel preparation. The effect of
nanoparticle on fuel properties like flash and fire point, density, viscosity, sulphur content,

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 Performance and Emission Characteristics of Diesel Engines with Al2O3 and CuO Nanoparticles
as Additives

auto ignition temperature (AIT) and distillation are examined. Combustion performance and
exhaust emissions of a single cylinder diesel engine by using diesel and nanodiesel are
compared.

2. MATERIAL AND METHOD

2.1. Preparation of Nanodiesel

Figure 1 Ultrasonicator

The preparation of nanodiesel is by two step method. In this method predefined mass
fraction of nanoparticles are dispersed in to base fuel (diesel). Proper mixing of nanoparticles
with base fuel is done by sonication process. Fig.1 shows the ultrasonicator which is used for
sonication process. For this study 0.006 % wt Concentrations of Al2O3 & CuO nanodiesel are
prepared. Fig. 2 shows the images of prepared nanodiesels.

Figure 2(a) Al2O3 nanodiesel Figure 2(b) CuO nanodiesel

2.2. Physiochemical properties of Nanodiesels

The fuel properties like density, kinematic viscosity and flash and fire point are estimated by
following stand ASTM test procedure. Table 1 shows Physiochemical properties for diesel,
Al2O3 & CuO nanodiesels.

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 J Venkatesu Naik and K Kiran Kumar

Table 1 Physiochemical properties of neat diesel and nanodiesels

Property Diesel Al2O3 nanodiesel CuO nanodiesel
Density (kg/m3) 834.1 834.3 834.5
Kinematic 0.000003621 0.000003426 0.000003514
viscousity(m2/s)
Flash point( Oc) 59.5 66.5 67.5

3. EXPERIMENTAL SETUP AND TEST PROCEDURE

In the present work Kirlosker TV1, four stroke, single cylinder diesel engine is used. Engine
specifications are given in table 2. Eddy current type dynamometer is used to apply the load.
The fuel flow rate was measured on a volume basis using a burette and stopwatch.
Thermometer and digital display were used to note the exhaust gas temperature. Smoke meter
was used for measuring of smoke density. Results are plotted against brake power. Schematic
of the experimental setup are shown in Fig 3.

Table 2 Engine specifications.

Test engine/type Kirlosker AKV-3
Number of cylinder 1
Bore 87.5 mm
Stroke 110.0 mm
Compression ratio 16.5:1
Max. speed 3600 RPM
Power 5.15 KW

Figure 3 Schematic diagram for experimental setup

4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The kinematic viscosity of the diesel, nanodiesels (Al2O3 & CuO ) with the variation of
temperature is as shown in Fig.4. As temperature increases viscosity decreases and same trend
is observed for diesel and nanodiesels. The kinematic viscosity is function of viscosity and
density. The addition of nanoparticles to diesel increases the density of the nanodiesel. It is to
be noted that CuO nanodiesel has higher density than Al2O3. Hence, CuO nanodiesel exhibits
lesser compared to Al2O3 nanodiesel.

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 Performance and Emission Characteristics of Diesel Engines with Al2O3 and CuO Nanoparticles
as Additives

Kinematic Viscosity (cSt)

5
4
3
Al2O3
2
CuO
1
Diesel
0
0 20 40 60
Temperature ( C) 0

Figure 4 kinematic viscosity of diesel and nanodiesel

The experimental results reveal that addition of nanoparticles to the neat diesel increases
the engine performance. Fig. 5 & 6 shows the effect of nanoparticel presences in diesel on
engine performance, torque and BSFC. Fig.5 shows the variation of torque with engine speed.
Torque of the engine is fluctuates at initial increment with engine speed and reaches a peak
value then after decreases. This similar trend observed for nanodiesel also. The nanodeisels
(Al2O3 & CuO) have higher torque at any engine speed. This happen because of the lower
formation of carbon deposits which further reduction of friction in the engine parts (15,16) ,
enhancement in indicated mean effective pressure (17) and increment in density of the
nanofluid mixture results increase in volumetric efficiency. However, for overall speeds range
the Al2O3 based nanodiesel has high torque as compared with CuO nanodiesel and neat diesel.
Diesel+ 0.006 % (Al2O3)
Diesel+ 0.006 % (CuO)
18
BSFC (g/kw-hr)

Neat diesel 300

Torque (kW)

Diesel+ 0.006 % (Al2O3)

17 270
Diesel+ 0.006 % (CuO)
Neat diesel
240
16
0 1 2 3 4 5
1000 2000 3000 4000
Speed (rpm) Power (kW)

Figure 5 Experimental results of torque for diesel Figure 6 Experimental results of BSFC for diesel
and nanodiesels and nanodiesels

The addition of nanoparticels to the diesel decreases the BSFC of the engine. The
variation of BSFC at different engine powers is as shown in fig.6. all nanodiesels have less
BSFC compared to neat diesel. . The kinematic viscosity of the nanodiesel is less compare
with neat diesel. In addition to kinematic viscosity, calorific value is high for nanodiesels
compared with neat diesel and the addition of nanoparticles decreases the combustion
pressure and this nanoparticles also acts as combustion catalyst agent, so it improves the
combustion process which results less consumption of fuel and hence BSFC decreases.

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 J Venkatesu Naik and K Kiran Kumar

Maximum of 1.4 % and 0.65 % of reduction in BSFC is observed for Al2O3 and CuO
nanodiesels.
2.50 100
Diesel+ 0.006 % (Al2O3) 90
2.30 80
Diesel+ 0.006 % (CuO) 70
2.10
60
CO (%)

Neat diesel

HC (ppm)
1.90 50
40 Diesel+ 0.006 % (Al2O3)
1.70 30 Diesel+ 0.006 % (CuO)
20
1.50 Neat diesel
10
1.30 0
0 1 2 3 4 5 0 1 2 3 4 5
Power (kW) Power (kW)
Figure 7 Experimental results of CO emissions for Figure 8 Experimental results of HC emissions for
diesel and nanodiesels diesel and nanodiesels

1600
1400
1200
1000
NOx (ppm)

800
600 Diesel+ 0.006 % (Al2O3)
400 Diesel+ 0.006 % (CuO)
200 Neat diesel
00
0 1 2 3 4 5
Power (kW)

Figure 9 Experimental results of NOx emissions for diesel and

nanodiesels

The addition of nanoparticles (Al2O3 & CuO) decreases the CO & HC emissions when
comparing with neat diesel (Fig.5&6). As engine power increases CO & HC emissions
increases. On the other hand addition of nanoparticles decreases the CO & HC emissions.
This happened because of the metal oxide based nanoparticles enhance the process and
complete combustion of HC and CO takes place. From Fig. (5 & 6) it is observed that
addition of Al2O3 nanoparticles to diesel has more effect on reduction of CO & HC emissions
when compared with CuO nanoparticle addition to diesel. The Al2O3 nanodiesel have found
13.3%, 12.17% and CuO nanodiesel 6.3%, 7.11% of reduction in HC,CO emissions. This
may be due Al2O3 nanodiesel have shorter ignition delay with improved ignition
characteristics as compare with CuO nanodiesel. The variation of NOx emissions with engine
power is shown in Fig. 9. The nanodiesels have lower NOx emissions as compare with neat
diesel. The NOx emissions are reduced 8.75% by Al2O3 nanodiesel whereas 2.6% by CuO
nanodiesel. This may be due to either nanoparticles in combustion chamber acts as heat sink
or nanoparticles acts as catalyst. This can be explained as follows
 Presence of nanoparticles in the diesel reduces the combustion pressure. The reduction in
combustion pressure promotes combustion reaction and the engine temperature increases.

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 Performance and Emission Characteristics of Diesel Engines with Al2O3 and CuO Nanoparticles
as Additives

However, in the chamber nanoparticles acts as heat sink and absorbs the heat and reduces the
engine temperature and results reduction in NOx emissions (18).
 The nanoparticles in diesel in combustion process acting as a catalyst and it either provide
oxygen molecules for complete oxidation of HC and CO or absorb oxygen from NOx.(19)

So the nanodiesels have lower NOx emissions as compared with neat diesel that can be
observed in Fig. 9. Similar trend was observed in the literature (19 , 20)

5. CONCLUSIONS
The present study reveals that suitability of nanodiesels for CI engines. Experiments are
conducted on Kirlosker TV1, four stroke, single cylinder diesel engine with neat diesel, Al2O3
& CuO nanodiesel having concentration of 0.006% by wt. Performance and combustion
analysis is done by varying engine power and the results are summarized as follows
 Addition of nanoparticles to neat diesel (nanodiesel) improve the engine performance and
reduction in emissions such as HC,CO & NOx.
 Brake specific fuel consumption initially decreases with increase in load till 70% and then
increases. BSFC for nanodiesels (Al2O3 & Cuo) is lower than that of pure diesel. The
decrement in BSFC for Al2O3 is 1.4 % and CuO is 0.65 % with neat diesel.
 Adding of nanoparticles to diesel enhance the combustion process. Hence the emissions
decreases. The Al2O3 nanodiesel have found 13.3%,12.17% and 8.75% of reduction in HC,CO
and NOx emissions and CuO nanodiesel have 6.3%,7.11% and 2.6% of reduction in HC,CO
and NOx respectively.
 Among Al2O3 and CuO nanodiesels Al2O3 nanodiesel have better performance. This is due
Al2O3 diesel having shorten ignition delay period with improved ignition characteristics.

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