Journal of Biofuels

  • Year: 2013
  • Volume: 4
  • Issue: 1

Nano-Copper Additive for Reducing NOx Emission in Soya Bean Biodiesel-Fuelled CI Engine

  • Author:
  • K. Balamurugan1,, A. Tamilvanan2, M. Anbarasu3, S. Akil Mohamed3, S. Srihari3
  • Total Page Count: 8
  • Page Number: 1 to 8

1Associate Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Road and Transport Technology, Erode-638316, Tamil Nadu, India

2Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kongu Engineering College, Erode-638052, Tamil Nadu, India

3Graduate Student, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Road and Transport Technology, Erode-638316, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

Biodiesel usage in automotive engines is restricted due to its high nitrogen oxide (NOx) emission and low performance. Soya bean biodiesel (B10) with nano-copper particle as fuel additive was tested for performance and exhaust emission properties in a diesel engine. Nano-copper particles were synthesised using electrolysis method, and the characterisation (x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope) studies confirmed the particle sizes to be around 40 and 50 nm. Nano-copper particles were added to soya bean methyl ester through span 80 surfactant and further mixed with diesel as B10 blend. Various formulations (diesel, soya bean B10, soya bean B10+1.5% 30 nm Cu, soya bean B10+1.5% 42 nm Cu) were tested in a single-cylinder, water-cooled diesel engine and found that B10 with nano-copper particles show better engine performance and reduced NOx emission and smoke compared with other formulations.

Keywords

Soya bean biodiesel, Nano-copper particle, NOx emission, Diesel engine, Fuel additive