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Rice husk as nanoadditive in diesel–biodiesel fuel blends used in diesel engine

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Abstract

The fossil fuels are gradually reducing due to the increase in energy users and prices. In India the biodiesel is one of the best available renewable energy sources to satisfy the energy demand and environmentally friendly nature. In the present work, non-edible feedstock of pongamia pinnata seed oil is used for biodiesel production. The biodiesel was prepared by transesterification method with methanol in the existence of KOH as catalyst, and in addition of rice husk (RH) nano-organic additive is used in biodiesel production. The RH nanoparticles are characterized by using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction and the CHNS elemental analysis. TEM results confirm that the RH nanoparticle has size of around 20 nm. The pure diesel, 20% biodiesel 80% diesel and 20% biodiesel 80% diesel with 0.1% RH nanoparticles are used as fuels in the diesel engine. The performance and emission characteristics of the IC engine are studied. The results showed that the RH nanoparticles added with pongamia seed oil methyl ester improve the brake thermal efficiency, reduced CO, HC emissions and lowered the NOx emissions.

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Abbreviations

RH:

Rice husk

CI:

Compression ignition

CO:

Carbon monoxide

CO2 :

Carbon dioxide

DF:

Diesel fuel

FFA:

Free fatty acid

HC:

Hydrocarbon

IMEP:

Indicated mean effective pressure

NOx :

Nitrogen oxides

Btdc:

Before top dead center

KOH:

Potassium hydroxide

NaOH:

Sodium hydroxide

H2SO4 :

Sulfuric acid

NaCl:

Sodium chloride

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Chemical Engineering Department, Central Leather Research Institute, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, for biodiesel production. Also like to thank Dr. Sivanthi Aditanar College of Engineering, Tamil Nadu, India, for providing the necessary support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Dr. Sivanthi Aditanar College of Engineering, Tiruchendur, Tamil Nadu, 628215, India

    K. Vinukumar

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Mepco Schlenk Engineering College, Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu, 626005, India

    A. Azhagurajan

  3. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Chandigarh College of Engineering and Technology (Degree Wing), Chandigarh, 160019, India

    S. C. Vettivel

  4. Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI), Chennai, 600020, India

    N. Vedaraman

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Correspondence to K. Vinukumar.

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Vinukumar, K., Azhagurajan, A., Vettivel, S.C. et al. Rice husk as nanoadditive in diesel–biodiesel fuel blends used in diesel engine. J Therm Anal Calorim 131, 1333–1343 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-017-6692-7

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