Effect of CNT Additives on Performance and Exhaust Emissions of a Diesel Engine Fueled with Non Edible Biodiesel Fuel

Energy demands for petroleum products are increasing since its rate of fuel consumption is increasing.The whole world suffers from shortage of petroleum products.Therefore it is necessary to find alternative fuels of fuel consumption reduction and harmful exhaust emission.Biodiesel was produced from jatropha oil by esterification followed by transesterification process.The aim of this paper is to measure performance and exhaust emissions of a diesel engine using jatropha biodiesel blends by adding appropriate concentrations of carbon nano additives.Carbon nano additives were mixed with biodiesel blends at the rate of 25mg/l, 50 mg/l and 100 mg/l as 25, 50 and 100 ppm.An experimental investigation was carried out on a single cylinder diesel engine at different engine loads using Jatropha biodiesel and nano additives.Measured physical and chemical properties of jatropha biodiesel (B20) were found to be within ASTM standards.Tests showed a considerable enhancement in engine performance and exhaust emission compared to biodiesel blends without nano additives.Experimental test results indicated that adding carbon nano particles to biodiesel fuel decreased about 5.71% in brake specific fuel consumption and 13.34% increased in brake thermal efficiency compared to pure diesel fuel.Combustion of jatropha biodiesel (B20C50) resulted in decreases in CO, NO x , and smoke emissions by about 36.36,57.14 and 43.66%, respectively as compared to diesel oil.Jatropha biodiesel blend with CNTs at concentration of 50 ppm is environmentally friendly and achieved better engine performance compared to other fuels.Thus it is recommended to use jatropha biodiesel with carbon nano-additives as an alternative fuel in diesel engines.