Fuel, vol.367, 2024 (SCI-Expanded)
Research into alternative fuels for diesel engines is currently focusing on the utilization of nanoparticles (NPs) as a promising solid fuel additive. The basis of such studies is to investigate the possibilities of using solid–liquid mixtures in internal combustion engines (ICEs). In general, NPs are commercially sold and readily available. On the other hand, NPs that can be produced from biomass through green synthesis have recently been preferred because of their environmental-friendly, low cost, and low toxicity. In the present study, therefore, the influence of alternative fuels to be prepared by adding metal-based silicon dioxide (SiO2) and titanium dioxide (TiO2) NPs obtained by green synthesis using safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) leaves to diesel-safflower seed oil biodiesel (SSOB) blends (B10 and B20) at varying levels (50, 100, and 250 ppm) on the engine performance and emissions was extensively examined under laboratory conditions. While the particle size of the synthesized SiO2 NPs was calculated as approximately 41 nm, the particle size of TiO2 NPs was calculated as 47 nm. Additionally, it was observed that the obtained NPs generally had spherical and irregular particle structures. The presence of SiO2 (Si: 21.2 %, O 67.3 %) and TiO2 (Ti: 50.7 %, O: 45.8 %) was confirmed by EDX analysis. On the basis of the engine tests, the highest fuel consumption was calculated to be 2.132 kg/h for the B20Ti250 at the highest load. It was pointed out that the fuel blends including NPs descended CO and HC emissions whereas ascended NOx emissions. At 75 % load, the CO2 emissions for diesel fuel (DF), B20, and B20Ti250 were 0.468, 0.491, and 0.502 kg/kWh, respectively.