Influence of curcumin nanoparticle blended biofuel in engine performance, combustion and exhaust emission characteristics

This study examine the prospect of utilizing biodiesel from lemongrass. The prepared biodiesel was replaced diesel fuel in research variable compression ratio diesel engine. Antioxidant namely curcumin nanoparticles are partially blended to enhance the combustion behaviour of diesel/biodiesel blend. 30% volume of lemongrass oil (LGO) is blended with 70% volume of diesel as identified as base fuel. 5% volume of curcumin nanoparticle is equally blended in base fuel to enhance physic-chemical properties in which phase change was not observed upon adding of anti-oxidant nanoparticle. Performance results found that LGBD and LGBD + C has improved physic-chemical properties of diesel/biodiesel and produces an increased result of brake thermal efficiency and brake specific fuel consumption than diesel at rate of 4.58%, 10.6% and 6.625%, 19.9% respectively. Exhaust emission such as CO, HC and NOx are reduced at 29.88%, 13.25% and 23.112% for LGBD and 39.92%, 26.87% and 34% for LGBD + C. It was concluded that LGBD + C has better performance, combustion and emission characteristics over diesel. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.