Improve direct injection compression ignition engine behavior using magnetite nano-fuel and hydrogen induction: a dual fuel approach

Direct injection compression ignition (DICI) engine behavior can be improved by adding metallic nanoparticles as an additive in a pilot fuel. However, the effects of metallic-based additive in a dual-fuel engine with hydrogen as a secondary fuel are not well known. Therefore, the present work investigates the effects of magnetite nanoparticles (nano-metallic additive) and hydrogen induction (secondary fuel) on the behavior of an employed dual fuel DICI engine fueled with chicken fat biodiesel (CFB) blend. The magnetite nano-fuels were prepared by an ultrasonication process through suspending magnetite nanoparticles in a CFB30 blend (30% chicken fat biodiesel + 70% pure diesel) in quantities of 50, 100, and 150 ppm. All experiments were executed at a constant speed of 1500 rpm, and different brake power (BP) of 0 kW, 0.85 kW, 1.71 kW, 2.56 kW, and 3.42 kW. Results showed that the neat CFB30 blend gave trivial lower BTE compared to diesel. However, CFB30 blend lessened the smoke by 11.65%, UHC by 12%, and CO by 0.038 (% vol.), but it increased the NOx emission by 25%. The addition of magnetite nanoparticles (100 ppm) in a CFB30 blend demonstrated an enhancement in BTE by 7.49% and reduction in BSFC by 22.86 and NOx by 15.72%, besides nanoparticles inclusion further declined the smoke by 15.64%, UHC by 22.27%, and CO by 0.119 (% vol.) corresponding to neat CFB30 blend. Ultimately, 10 lpm of hydrogen injection further increased the BTE by 5.08% and lessened the BSFC by 14.17%, smoke by 11.57%, UHC by 14.7%, and CO by 0.037 (%vol.), although increased the NOx emission slightly. From the investigational results, it is concluded that magnetite nanoparticles in CFB30 fuel along with 10 lpm hydrogen demonstrate an overall improvement in DICI engine behavior.