| Abstract [eng] |
The performance and emission characteristics of a water-cooled, four-stroke, three-cylinder compression ignition (CI) engine were examined in this work in relation to the synergetic effects of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles and Jatropha methyl ester (JME) biodiesel. A variety of fuel blends, including B10 and B20 (10% and 20% JME by volume), as well as their corresponding nanoparticle-enhanced versions (B10T30, B10T60, B10T90, B20T30, B20T60, and B20T90), were used in the experimental testing. Pure diesel (D) was used as the baseline. In order to assess important performance parameters, including torque, brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC), brake thermal efficiency (BTE), and emission parameters like nitrogen oxide (NOx), hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), and smoke opacity, the engine was operated under constant full load conditions, with the speed adjusted between 1200 and 2200 rpm in increments of 200 rpm. The findings show that adding TiO2 nanoparticles greatly enhances engine performance. When compared to diesel, the B20T90 and B10T90 showed the most substantial gains, with BTE increases of up to 6.2% and BSFC reductions of 3.4%. All TiO2-enhanced blends showed much lower CO and smoke emissions, suggesting cleaner burning though HC emissions increased at higher nanoparticle concentrations, possibly due to agglomeration effects. However, because of excessive oxygen availability and higher combustion temperature, there was an increase in HC and NOx emissions. Overall, the results show that JME and TiO2 work in combination to improve fuel economy and lower particle emissions. If the issue of cost-effective nanoparticle sourcing is resolved, these fuel blends—in particular, B10T90 and B20T90—show potential for short-term benefits in controlled laboratory conditions, but substantial further work is required on long-term durability, regulatory pathways, and cost-benefit ratios compared to existing aftertreatment systems such as SCR and DPF, to assess their viability for sustainable diesel engine operation in the industrial and transportation sectors. |
