Experimental investigation on the effect of alkanes blending on performance, combustion and emission characteristics of four-stroke diesel engine

In this experimental investigation, an attempt was made to increase the performance and reduce the emission by adding alkanes such as n-pentane and n-hexane separately at different proportions, such as 4%, 6% and 8% by volume, with diesel. The performance analysis reported that, at full load, the brake thermal efficiency was increased by 3.605%, 3.170%, 4.305%, 4.394%, 5.336% and 6.173% for the blending of 4% n-pentane, 6% n-pentane, 8% n-pentane, 4% n-hexane, 6% n-hexane and 8% n-hexane with diesel, respectively. The emission test concluded that the smoke density was increased by 9.915%, 9.905%, 6.325%, 9.573%, 6.154% and 5.983% for the blending of 4% n-pentane, 6% n-pentane, 8% n-pentane, 4% n-hexane, 6% n-hexane and 8% n-hexane with diesel, respectively. The NOx emission was decreased by 8.265%, 8.674%, 17.430%, 5.401%, 5.810% and 7.529% for the blending of 4% n-pentane, 6% n-pentane, 8% n-pentane, 4% n-hexane, 6% n-hexane and 8% n-hexane with diesel, respectively.