Comparison and testing of cerium oxide nanoparticle added Pongamia and, Scenedesmus microalgae biodiesel blends

Abstract

The demands for alternative fuel sources rapidly riring due to depleting fossil fuel sources and severe environmental impacts of using them aggressively. The current study investigates and compares the performance of the third generation Scenedesmus sp. and second generation Pongamia blended biodiesels and the impacts of mixing cerium oxide (CeO2) nanoadditives on the performace and emission charactestics. Enriched percentage of biodiesel: thirty percent blended biodiesels of Scenedesmus sp. (A30), Pongamia (P30), 100 ppm CeO2 nanoparticles in A30 (A30C100), and 100 ppm CeO2 nanoparticles in P30 (P30C100) are experimentally tested in an indirect injection CI engine. Nanoparticle addition to Scenedesmus sp. and Pongamia biodiesel blends improved the engine average brake thermal efficiency (BTE) by 4.2% and 3.8% respectively. The peak pressures are found to be the highest for nanoparticle-added blends and their peak heat release rates are slightly shifted from the top dead center. The A30 and P30 NOx emissions are found to be lower than the diesel, addition of nanoparticles increased the NOx emission level by 2.17% and 6.17% respectively. The average NOx emission of P30C100 is found even higher than diesel. Smoke emissions of all biodiesel variants tested in the current study are found to be significantly lower than diesel. The addition of CeO2 nanoparticles helped in improving the performance of blended biodiesel and reducing the smoke emissions of an engine. Scenedesmus biodiesel-nanoparticle blend (A30C100) achieved BTE close to diesel at higher loads and it is recommended as a better alternative fuel for CI engines. The findings of the current study will help in exploring the ways of shifting from B20 to B30 in many fleet and commerical vehicles. © 2023 Institution of Chemical Engineers