Influence of Al2O3nano additives in ternary fuel (diesel-biodiesel-ethanol) blends operated in a single cylinder diesel engine: Performance, combustion and emission characteristics

Highlights: • Influence of alumina nano additives on ternary fuel. • Alumina blended ternary fuel resulted in higher BTE and lowered BSEC. • Emissions like HC, CO, NOx and smoke were lowered with alumina addition. • Cylinder pressure, HRR and CHRR were higher for alumina blended ternary fuel. • 20 ppm alumina addition resulted in improved performance and minimized emissions. The present work is dedicated to the experimental analysis on the influence of fuel borne additives on ternary fuel blend operated in a single cylinder DI diesel engine. Alumina (Al₂O₃) nanoparticles were chosen as fuel additives at dosing levels of 10 ppm, 20 ppm and 30 ppm respectively and the ternary fuel (TF) is prepared by blending 70% diesel, 20%Jatropha biodiesel and 10% ethanol. Performance characteristics like brake thermal efficiency (BTE) and brake specific energy consumption (BSEC), emission characteristics like HC, CO, NOx and smoke along with combustion characteristics like cylinder pressure, HRR (Heat release rate) and CHRR (Cumulative heat release rate) were considered for analysis. Based on experimentation, it is observed that, TF blended with 20 ppm alumina nano additive (TF20) resulted in higher BTE and lowered BSEC by 7.8% and 4.93%, lowered HC, CO, NOx and smoke emissions by 5.69%, 11.24%, 9.39% and 6.48% in comparison with TF. Moreover, TF20 resulted in higher cylinder pressure, HRR and CHRR of about 72.67 bar, 76.22 J/^oCA and 1171.1 J respectively which are higher than diesel and TF. Hence, it is concluded that addition of 20 ppm alumina nano additive in TF can enhance the engine performance and combustion as well as lower the exhaust pollutants simultaneously.