Combined effects of nozzle hole variation and piston bowl geometry modification on performance characteristics of a diesel engine with energy and exergy approach

This experimental work aims to address the challenges of waste management. Biomass waste is converted into useful fuel and considered as a replacement to conventional fuel in CI engines. In this context, the grape marc and grape pomace are crushed and further processed to produce grapeseed oil. The grapeseed oil is further trans esterified to produce grapeseed seed oil methyl ester. The present study aims in examining the effect of varying piston shapes and nozzle profile on energy and exergy rates of a CI engine run with grapeseed oil methyl ester (GSME) blended with cerium oxide nano particles. The CeO2 nano particles were suspended in the base fuel at a concentration of 100 ppm and stability tests were conducted. The experiments were performed on a single cylinder, water cooled diesel engine with rated power of 5.2 kW. The research work includes two additional piston shapes namely, toroidal and shallow deep and two additional nozzle profiles viz. 4 hole and 5-hole nozzle. The hemispherical shape and 3-hole nozzle were considered as the standard one. Energy and exergy analysis were done on the experimental data to understand the exergy associated with cooling water, exhaust gas and unaccounted losses. The energy and exergy rates show that increase in nozzle hole number, decreases the destructive availability of the system. The exergetic efficiency of 32.8% is higher proving that toroidal shape and 5-hole nozzle profile is comparatively better and suitable for effective engine operation. HC, CO and smoke emissions reduced considerably by 14.4%-30% by the engine modification. Brake thermal efficiency was improved from 28.2% to 31.02% for CI engine with biodiesel. The paper addresses the gap in fuel modification clubbed with engine modification using biomass waste derived fuel. Exergy and energy analysis further add value to this current experimental work.

Automated summary

This experimental work addresses the challenges of waste management by converting biomass waste into useful fuel for internal combustion engines. The study analyzes the effects of different piston shapes and nozzle profiles on the energy and exergy rates of an engine running on grapeseed oil methyl ester blended with cerium oxide nano particles. The results show that adjusting the nozzle shape and hole number can improve the energy efficiency and exergetic efficiency of the engine, while reducing exhaust emissions.