Studying some Pollutant Emissions of an Injection Gasoline Engine Using Mixed Fuel of Ethanol, Gasoline and Carbon Nanoparticles

Abstract

Introduction Due to the rapid growth in the urban population, the numbers of cars also have increased which resulted in an increase of pollution level in the urban areas of the developing countries. The pollutants emerging from combustion engines may include: carbon monoxide (CO), unburned hydrocarbons (UBHC), oxide of nitrogen (NOx), oxides of sulfur (SOx), particulate matter (PM), soot, hydrogen, oxygen, traces of aldehydes, alcohols, ketons, phenols, acid, lead aerosol, etc., along with normal combustion products i.e. carbon dioxide (CO2) and water vapors. In order to overcome the problems associated with the bio-fuel, the chemical substances like fuel additives derived from organic, inorganic metals were used. Fuel additives generally improve the combustion efficiency and reduce the pollution. Metallic based compounds, such as manganese, iron, copper, barium, calcium and platinum, etc., which have been used as a combustion catalyst for hydrocarbon fuels. Recent advances in nanoscience and nanotechnology enables production, control and characterization of nanoscale energetic materials. Nano materials are more effective than bulk materials because of its higher surface area. Another important advantage of nanoparticle is its size, because there is no chance for fuel injector and filter clogging as in the case of micron sized particles. Gan and Qiao, (2011) investigated the burning characteristics of fuel droplets containing nano and micron sized aluminum (Al) particles by varying its size, surfactant concentration and type of base fluid. Tyagi et al. (2008) conducted a study to improve the ignition properties of diesel fuel and investigated the influence of size and quantity of Al and Al2O3 nanoparticles in a diesel fuel. It was inferred that it shortens the ignition delay and increased the ignition probability of fuel. Finally, it was concluded that, the increase in heat and mass transfer properties of the fuel has the potential of reducing the evaporation time of droplets. In the present investigation, the effect of mixture of ethanol with gasoline and carbon nanotubes on emission characteristics was evaluated using Jatropha biodiesel in a compression in a spark ignition engine. Materials and Methods In this study, a mixture of ethanol with gasoline (at five levels, 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40%) as a renewable fuel and carbon nanoparticles (at three levels of 0, 20 and 80 ppm) as catalyst were used in spark ignition engine (in 1000, 2000 and 3000 rpm). Engine pollutants such as sound, carbon monoxide, unburnt hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide and oxygen output were measured. Furthermore, a device was designed and manufactured to measure and display the amount of carbon monoxide in the exhaust outlet; moreover, if the amount of carbon increased air compressor was activated to reduce carbon monoxide in the exhaust outlet. Results and Discussion The results showed that with increasing ethanol consumption, the amount of carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbons were reduced. Furthermore, the amount of produced oxygen and carbon dioxide increased. Also adding carbon nanoparticles to fuel caused the engine sound level decreased. According to the observation, carbon monoxide decreased while using an electronic device compare to the engine without a carbon monoxide controlling system. This depicts that implementation of carbon monoxide can be control and reduce which is very useful while engine is working under the close environments. Conclusions The use of alternative fuel, gasoline as well as the reduction of exhaust emissions in the spark ignition engine is of great importance. Therefore, in the present study five levels of ethanol (0, 10, 20, 30 and 40%) and three levels of carbon nanoparticles (0, 20 and 80 ppm) were mixed with gasoline and used in spark ignition engine at three rotation speed (in 1000, 2000 and 3000 rpm). According to the results, there is a reduction in carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbons and increasing carbon dioxide emission by using ethanol, because of its fuel bound O2. Furthermore, 3.8% dB 54% reduction in sound and CO, respectively at 3000 rpm with E10 were observed.

Keywords

• carbon nanotubes
• ethanol
• pollutant
• sound
• spark ignition engine