Experimental investigation of nozzle cavitating flow characteristics for diesel and biodiesel fuels

This study was performed to clarify criteria for cavitation inception and the relationship between flow conditions and cavitation flow patterns of diesel and biodiesel fuels. The goal was to analyze the effects of injection conditions and fuel properties on cavitating flow and disintegration phenomena of flow after fuel injection. To accomplish this goal, it was utilized a test nozzle with a cylindrical cross-sectional orifice and a flow visualization system composed of a fuel supply system and an image acquisition system. In order to analyze the rate of flow and injection pressure of the fuel, a flow rate meter and pressure gauge were installed at the entrance of the nozzle. A long distance microscope device equipped with a digital camera and a high resolution ICCD camera were used to acquire flow images of diesel and biodiesel, respectively. The effects of nozzle geometry on the cavitating flow were also investigated. Lastly, a detailed comparison of the nozzle cavitation characteristics of both fuel types was conducted under a variety of fuel injection parameters. The results of this analysis revealed that nozzle cavitation flow could be divided into four regimes: turbulent flow, beginning of cavitation, growth of cavitation, and hydraulic flip. The velocity coefficient of diesel fuel was greatly altered following an increase in flow rate, although for biodiesel, the variation of the velocity coefficient relative to the rate of flow was mostly constant. The cavitation number decreased gradually with an increase in the Reynolds number and Weber number, and the discharge coefficient was nearly equal to one, regardless of cavitation number. Lastly, it could not observe cavitation growth in the tapered nozzle despite an increase in fuel injection pressure.     

Experimental study of the physical and chemical characteristics of biodiesel blended fuel using ultrasonic energy irradiation

The purpose of this study is to understand the physical and chemical characteristics of biodiesel blended fuel reformed by ultrasonic energy irradiation. To do this, a mixture of commercial diesel fuel and biodiesel was compared and analyzed according to whether or not ultrasonic energy irradiation was performed and the duration of irradiation. The results of the experiments indicate that when ultrasonic energy irradiation was performed on biodiesel blended fuel, its viscosity decreased by 3–7%. In the case of BD20, when ultrasonic energy irradiation was performed, its Sauter mean diameter (SMD) dropped by 12% on average. As the irradiation duration increased, the volume ratio of olefins increased up to a maximum of 2.7%, and the higher heating value increased to a maximum of 5.8%. On the contrary, the ratio of aromatics decreased by a maximum of 2.7%, and BI decreased by a maximum of 7%.     

The role of nano additives for biodiesel and diesel blended transportation fuels

The energy crisis is due to two reasons, one is the rapid increase in worldwide population and the other is changing living style of human beings. The fossil fuel is also a major contributor to add the harmful pollutants into the atmosphere. Fuel modifications play a major role in increasing engine efficiency and reducing emissions. In the present investigation focused on fuel modifications in diesel engine. Initially the single cylinder diesel engine was operated with 20MEOM, 40MEOM, 60MEOM, 8MEOM and 100MEOM without additives with diesel at different loads at constant rated speed. From the experimental study proved that 20MEOM is the best fuel ratio compared to other blends. In second phase based upon first phase results the engine was operated 20MEOM blended fuel with adding 50 ppm copper oxide nano additives with diesel using solgel process. From the results, the brake thermal efficiency was 2.19% improved compared than 20MEOM blend without additive at full load condition. Emissions of HC, CO and smoke were considerably reduced. The present analysis reveals that the biofuel from mahua oil with nano additives is quite suitable as an alternate fuel for diesel engine.     

Reaction characteristics of the diesel oxidation catalyst of particulate matters from the diffusion flame of a oiler burner

The objective of this experimental study is to investigate the characteristics of the size distribution and the number concentration of PM (particulate matters) emitted from the diffusion flame of a boiler burner, which has the same type of combustion as a diesel engine. This study is performed to investigate the emission characteristics of nanoparticles generated from diffusion combustion in diesel fuel, and it considered fuel factors and the reaction characteristics of the nanoparticles on the DOC (Diesel oxidation catalyst). The factors examined in this experiment included the sulfur content in the fuel, the blend of the diesel fuel containing biodiesel and bio-ethanol, and the concentration of engine oil (0.1% and 1.0%) blended with diesel fuel. The particle size distribution of the nanoparticles exhausted from the boiler burner was measured by an SMPS (scanning mobility particle sizer). The number concentration of PM that were smaller than 70 nm in diameter greatly increased in the rear of the DOC when fuel containing 250 ppm of sulfur was used. The experiment also suggested that the particle number concentration in both the front and rear of the DOC was lower when ULSD (ultra low sulfur diesel) fuel blended with biodiesel and bio-ethanol, which are oxygenated fuels, was used than when only ULSD fuel was used. The higher the content of engine oil in the fuel, the higher the particle number concentration was in the front and rear of the catalyst. When the first dilution air temperature is increased from 30°C to 180°C, the nanoparticle number concentration dramatically dropped in the rear of the catalyst when fuel containing 250 ppm of sulfur was used, while the particle size distribution remained almost the same when the fuel with engine oil was used.     

车用增压柴油机燃用不同掺混比生物柴油的试验研究

采用不同掺混比的生物柴油分别对两台进口增压中冷车用直喷式柴油机和一辆客车进行了经济性、动力性和排放特性台架试验及车辆道路试验。研究表明,纯生物柴油或生物柴油与柴油的掺混燃料可以有效地降低排放物HC、CO、PM和烟度,而动力性和油耗略有下降和上升,NOx排放有不同程度的增加。结果与分析还表明,在发动机不做任何改动和调整时,燃用B20(20％生物柴油)可以取得令人满意的结果。     

Development of optimum friction new nano hybrid composite liner for biodiesel fuel engine

This work presents the preparation of aluminum (Al) 6061 nano hybrid composite samples reinforced with equal weight percentage of nano-ZrO₂, micro-SiC, micro-Gr particles of 0%, 0.75%, 1.5%, 2.25%, and 3% using stir casting method. Friction characteristics of the composite samples under reciprocating conditions were studied at 125 °C using L₂₇ orthogonal array and Taguchi method. The results of analysis of variance showed the influencing parameter for friction coefficient in the order of applied load and reciprocating sliding speed, followed by sliding distance and percent reinforcement. Hence, the total combined reinforcement sample of 6.75% was found to be optimum in terms of frictional characteristics and tensile strength. It was selected to synthesize lightweight nano hybrid composite cylinder liner (NL) and to replace the present cast iron cylinder liner (CL) used in biodiesel engine application. The developed NL had a 43.75% reduced weight than the currently used CL. Neat diesel and biodiesel from Jatropha oil and its diesel blends were used as test fuels. Experimental results proved that NL improved brake thermal efficiency, in-cylinder pressure, heat release rate and reduced carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon, and smoke emission in comparison with the existing liner. The results also showed that emission of the oxides of nitrogen (NO_x) increased marginally with the new liner. Thus, the newly developed NL was found suitable for both diesel- and biodiesel-operated internal combustion engines.     

Truck versus pipeline transportation cost analysis of wastewater sludge

Domestic and industrial sludge generated at wastewater treatment facilities is considered a potential biomass source for producing biodiesel. However, transportation of large amounts of sludge from wastewater treatment facilities to a biorefinery is expensive. The objective of this paper is to identify the proper transportation mode to use as a function of the volume shipped and transportation distances. Currently, sludge is mainly shipped by truck and pipeline. We estimated that the fixed and variable cost components of pipeline transportation for a volume such as 480 m³/day and a distance of 100 miles are $0.116/m³ and $0.089/m³/mile, respectively. We estimated the biomass (sludge) transportation cost per gallon of biodiesel, and observed the changes in these costs as a function of distance traveled and volume shipped. The outcomes of this study have the potential to help biofuel plants make better biomass transportation decisions, and consequently reduce the price of biodiesel significantly.