Influence of an aqueous cerium oxide nanofluid fuel additive on performance and emission characteristics of a compression ignition engine

Aqueous cerium oxide at the rate of 50cc per liter was dispersed into diesel and diesel-biodiesel using mechanical agitator and an ultrasonicator for preparing the test fuels. Cerium oxide nanomaterials present in the aqueous cerium oxide exhibit higher catalytic activity because of their large contact surface area per unit volume and can react with water at high temperature to generate hydrogen and improve fuel combustion. Also, cerium oxide nanomaterials act as oxygen buffers causing simultaneous oxidation of hydrocarbons (HCs) as well as the reduction of oxides of nitrogen. The neat diesel and test fuels were tested in an engine without changing the engine system at 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% load condition and resulted in a considerable enhancement in the brake thermal efficiency, improved brake-specific fuel consumption and decreased concentration of HC, NOx and smoke in the exhaust emitted from the diesel engine due to incorporation of aqueous cerium oxide in the test fuels.