Simultaneous Reduction of CO and NOx Emissions as Well as Fuel Consumption by Using Water and Nano Particles in Diesel–Biodiesel Blend

Restrictive emission regulations and climate change are the main motivations for improving engine combustion characteristics to decrease engine-out emissions and fuel consumption. Fuel additives are effective solutions to improve fuel properties to address these challenges. In this study, simultaneous application of water and cerium oxide nanoparticles in diesel-biodiesel fuel blend on performance and emission characteristics of a single cylinder diesel engine operated at start of injection of 20 before top dead center was experimentally investigated. Achieved results showed that the B5W7m fuel emulsion (B5 containing 7% water and nanoparticle) enhanced brake thermal efficiency by more than 13.5 and 6% compared to B5W7 and B5, respectively. Furthermore, the B5W7m reduced brake specific fuel consumption by8% and 23% vs. those of B5 and B5W7, respectively. CO emission was considerably decreased by using B5W7m, i.e., by 42% and 3% compared with B5W7 and B5, respectively. Combustion improvements observed could be attributed to the catalytic effect of cerium oxides nanoparticles. On the other hand, addition of 90 ppm CeO2 into the B5W7increased NOx emission by about 14%, this value was still 21% lower than the NOx emitted by B5 combustion though.