Experimental Investigation on the PCCI Engine Fueled by Algal Biodiesel Blend with CuO Nanocatalyst Additive and Optimization of Fuel Combination for Improved Performance and Reduced Emissions at Various Load Conditions by RSM Technique

Elumalai Ramachandran; Ravi Krishnaiah; Elumalai Perumal Venkatesan; Sreenivasa Reddy Medapati; Prabhakar Sekar

doi:10.1021/acsomega.2c07882

Experimental Investigation on the PCCI Engine Fueled by Algal Biodiesel Blend with CuO Nanocatalyst Additive and Optimization of Fuel Combination for Improved Performance and Reduced Emissions at Various Load Conditions by RSM Technique

ACS Omega. 2023 Feb 15;8(8):8019-8033. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.2c07882. eCollection 2023 Feb 28.

Authors

Elumalai Ramachandran¹, Ravi Krishnaiah¹, Elumalai Perumal Venkatesan², Sreenivasa Reddy Medapati², Prabhakar Sekar³

Affiliations

¹ School of Mechanical Engineering, VIT University, Vellore 632014, India.
² Department of Mechanical Engineering, Aditya Engineering College, Surampalem 533437, India.
³ Automotive Engineering, Wollo University, Dessie, Ethiopia 208.

Abstract

Fossil fuel depletion and environmental pollution are paramount problems the world faces. Despite several measures, the transportation industry is still battling to manage these issues. A combined approach of fuel modification for low-temperature combustion with combustion enhancers could offer a breakthrough. Due to their properties and chemical structure, biodiesels have piqued the interest of scientists. Studies have asserted that microalgal biodiesel might be a viable alternative. Premixed charge compression ignition (PCCI) is an easily adoptable promising low-temperature combustion strategy in compression ignition engines. The objective of this study is to identify the optimal blend and catalyst measure for improved performance and reduced emissions. Microalgae biodiesel at various proportions (B10, B20, B30, and B40) was amalgamated with CuO nanocatalyst and tested to arrive at the right concoction of biodiesel with nanoparticles in a 5.2 kW CI engine for different load conditions. The PCCI function warrants that about 20% of the fuel supplied is vaporized for premixing. Finally, the interplay factors of the independent variables of the PCCI engine were then explored by response surface methodology (RSM) to determine the optimal level of desired dependent and independent variables. The RSM experiment findings suggest that the best biodiesel and nanoparticle concoctions at 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80% loads were B20CuO76, B20Cu60, B18CuO61, and B18CuO65, respectively. These findings were experimentally validated.