Experimental investigation of the effects of using gasoline-kerosene and nitromethane mixtures on engine performance and emissions in a gasoline engine

The importance of energy has increased with the rise in population and industrialization, making it indispensable in our daily lives. Energy has become a necessity for the entire world. A portion of energy production is derived from fossil fuels. Fossil fuels take a long time to form, and due to rapid fuel consumption, reserves (coal, oil, and natural gas) are gradually depleting. The continuous decrease in reserves and the inability to renew these resources have led to the search for alternative energy sources. Climate changes caused by the use of fossil fuels, environmental pollution, and air pollution have accelerated the quest for new energy sources. The search for efficient, cheap, and environmentally friendly energy production has begun. Hence, new concepts such as renewable energy, eco-friendly energy, green energy, energy efficiency, and alternative fuels have emerged. In this study, the performance, fuel consumption, and emission characteristics of JP 8, Jet A1, nitromethane, and gasoline fuel blends are investigated in a single-cylinder, air-cooled, four-stroke gasoline engine. The engine was operated at a constant speed of 2500 RPM under varying torque loads (0 Nm, 2.5 Nm, 5 Nm, 7.5 Nm, and 10 Nm), and key performance indicators such as brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC), thermal efficiency, exhaust gas temperature (EGT), and exhaust emissions (CO, CO₂, NOx, HC) were measured. Blends containing JP 8 and nitromethane showed improved thermal efficiency, especially under higher torque conditions. The highest thermal efficiency of 18.46% was observed for the 90G5NM5JP8 blend at 10 Nm, compared to 16.67% for pure gasoline (G100). Similarly, the BSFC values for all fuel blends significantly decreased with increasing load. NOx levels increased with increasing load, with the 90G5NM5JP8 blend reaching 2000 ppm at 10 Nm, indicating higher combustion temperatures. On the other hand, CO and HC emissions decreased with higher loads for all blends. The 90G5NM5JP8 fuel blend showed the lowest CO emissions at 3.026% and HC emissions at 76 ppm. Fuel blends containing Jet A1 and nitromethane exhibited higher CO₂ emissions, reflecting more complete combustion. The study concludes that JP 8 and nitromethane blends significantly improve engine performance and efficiency but result in higher NOx emissions. These findings suggest that these fuel blends hold potential for high-performance applications but require further work to manage emissions for broader practical use.