Open Access

Exploring the Impact of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles as Fuel Additives in Candlenut Biodiesel–diesel Blends in a CI Engine

G. Antony Casmir Jayaseelan, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Aarupadai Veedu Institute of Technology, Vinayaka Mission's Research Foundation, Chennai, TN, India B. Musthafa, avsmus@gmail.com
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Aarupadai Veedu Institute of Technology, Vinayaka Mission's Research Foundation, Chennai, TN, India A. Anderson, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, TN, India J. Antony Abishek, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Aarupadai Veedu Institute of Technology, Vinayaka Mission's Research Foundation, Chennai, TN, India K. Bhuvaneshwaran Department of Mechanical Engineering, Aarupadai Veedu Institute of Technology, Vinayaka Mission's Research Foundation, Chennai, TN, India

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Abstract

Candlenut, a renewable biodiesel synthesized via transesterification, offers a sustainable alternative to fossil-based diesel. This study aims to produce candlenuts using a transesterification method with methanol as a catalyst. Candlenut was blended with conventional diesel in varying volumetric proportions of B20, B40, and B60 to assess its viability as an alternative fuel. Furthermore, ultrasonic dispersion was used to incorporate TiO₂ nanoparticles into the biodiesel blends to enhance fuel properties, and the physicochemical characteristics of the nanoadditive-enriched fuel blends were systematically analyzed. A comprehensive experimental evaluation of combustion, performance, and emission parameters was conducted on a single-cylinder diesel engine using these modified fuel blends, with baseline diesel operation as the reference. The findings indicate that the B20 biodiesel blend, which has been added with TiO₂ nanoparticles, shows superior combustion characteristics, improved performance, and emission characteristics in comparison to conventional diesel.

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Reference

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