Investigation of the effect of additional metallic fuel additive into biodiesel on engine performance and exhaust emissions

In this study, biodiesel was produced from canola oil using the transesterification method. B20 fuel was obtained by adding 20% of biodiesel to diesel fuel. Carbon nanoparticles (carbon quantum dots) were added to B20 fuel at the rates of 50 ppm, 100 ppm and 150 ppm. The effects of test fuels on engine performance, combustion characteristics and emissions were investigated in a single-cylinder, four-stroke, water-cooled diesel engine. The experiments were carried out at engine speed of 2200 rpm at engine loads of 4.12 Nm, 9.61 Nm, 15.10 Nm and 20.60 Nm. While more cylinder pressure was measured with diesel fuel at low engine loads, it was determined that the difference in cylinder pressure between diesel fuel and mixed fuels decreased with increasing engine load. While maximum specific fuel consumption was achieved with B20 fuel at all engine loads, it was observed that fuel economy improved with the addition of carbon nanoparticles. The lowest maximum pressure rise rate and knock intensity values were obtained with diesel fuel. With the addition of carbon nanoparticles, a decrease in HC and soot emissions, and an increase in NOx and CO emissions were observed compared to diesel fuel.