Enhancement of combustion effect leading to improved performance and exhaust emissions of an SI engine with ferrous oxide and graphite nanoparticles

The present study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of new, less toxic, less harmful, and nonmetallic graphite (G) and metallic iron oxide (Fe2O3) nanofuel additives by analyzing experimentally their consequences on exhaust emissions and performance of an air cooled, single cylinder, 4-stroke gasoline engine. Fe2O3 and graphite nanoparticles at 40, 80, and 120 mg/l of gasoline concentrations were mixed with gasoline by means of a magnetic stirrer. Brake power (BP), brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC), torque (T), brake thermal efficiency (BTE), nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions were the investigated parameters. Experimental results indicated that G-blends showed a higher rise in brake power, brake thermal efficiency and torque and a greater reduction in the brake-specific fuel consumption as compared to that of Fe2O3 fuel blends. Moreover, the G-blends produced less NOx and CO2 than Fe2O3 blends but produced more emissions of CO and HC than that of Fe2O3 blends. On average, G-blends produced 0.46%, 0.71%, and 1.71% more torque, power, and BTE and 2.43%, 1.87%, and 13.39% less brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC), NOx, and CO2 than Fe2O3 blends, respectively. So, in terms of the eight parameters, four performance parameters (i.e., T, BP, BSFC, BTE), and four engine emission exhaust indicators (i.e., CO, NOx, HC, CO2), graphite nanoparticles showed more positive results for 6 parameters (T, BP, BSFC, BTE, NOx, CO2), while two parameters HC and CO showed negative results with graphite as compared to that of Fe2O3 nanoparticles. So, overall, we conclude that nanoparticles of graphite are more engine and environment friendly than that of iron oxide fuel additives.

Experimental Study on Heat Treatment of SS 420 and EN 24 Using Nanoparticulate Quenching Process

Heat transfer through nanotechnology is a current trend which occupies most research areas with improved results. Taking this concept, the present work has been focused on the analysis of quenching effect on steel such as EN 24 and SS 420 with nanoparticles dispersed in quenching medium. Quenching is the process of removing heat from the heat-treated elements which also take part in determining the hardness values depending on the heat transfer rate and quenching time. To ensure the outcome properties, different volume concentrations of nanofluids have been prepared by adding TiO2 nanoparticles with the average diameter of less than 20[Formula: see text]nm in synthetic oil. Here, it is planned to have four volume concentrations (0.25[Formula: see text]g/lit, 0.375[Formula: see text]g/lit, 0.5[Formula: see text]g/lit, 0.625[Formula: see text]g/lit) of nanofluids to be used in the experiment. The materials after facing heat treatment up to 850∘C (EN 24) and 980∘C (SS 420), are subjected to quenching by using nanofluid. The work has been carried out by altering the tempering temperature and volume of nanoparticles in the quenching medium. The outcome quality of the product desirably supports our expectations, such as improved hardness and reduced time consumption for quenching. Additionally, the comparative analysis shows an improvement in heat transfer characteristics as well as properties in quenched specimen with nanofluids.