Experimental and Numerical Analyses of the Influence of Al2O3 Nanoparticle Supplementation in Biodiesel (Water Hyacinth) Blends with Diesel on CI Engine Responses

The current work includes experimental and numerical investigations into the effects of biodiesel (Eichhornia Crassipes) blends with different aluminum oxide nanoparticle concentrations on the combustion process in diesel engines. The experiments included measuring performance parameters and emissions tests while changing the engine speed and increasing loads. IC Engine Fluent, a specialist computational tool included in the ANSYS software (R19.0 version), was used to simulate internal combustion engine dynamics and combustion processes. All investigations were carried out using biodiesel blends with three concentrations of Al2O3 nanoparticles: 50, 100, and 150 ppm. The tested samples are called D100, D80B20, D80B20N50, D80B20N100, and D80B20N150, accordingly. The combustion characteristics are improved due to the catalytic effect and higher surface area of nano additives. The results showed improvements in the combustion process as the result of the nanoparticles' addition, which led to the higher peak cylinder pressure. The increases in the peak cylinder pressures for D80B20N50, D80B20N100, and D80B20N150 about D80B20 were 3%, 5%, and 8%, respectively, at a load of 200 Nm, while the simulation found that the maximum temperature for biodiesel blends diesel was higher than that for pure diesel; this was due to the higher hydrocarbon values of D80B20. Also, nano additives caused a decrease in temperatures in the combustion of biofuels. Finally, nano additives caused an enhancement of the emissions test results for all parameters when compared to pure diesel fuel and biofuel.