Combustion efficiency enhancement in a single cylinder spark ignition engine by addition of nanoparticles

Abstract

Internal combustion engines are devices that generate work using the products of newlinecombustion as the working fluid rather than as a heat transfer medium. Researchers focused on newlineunderstanding of engine combustion and emissions formation within engine cylinder and how newlinethese depend on factors such as fuel spray characteristics, in-cylinder air motion, and type of newlinefuel. This greater understanding helps to develop efficient advanced combustion engine newlinestrategies such as low temperature combustion, dilute (lean burn) gasoline combustion, and clean newlinecombustion that produce very low emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and particulate matter newline(PM). newlineTurbulence plays a very important role in combustion as the flame speed is directly newlineproportional to the turbulence of the mixture. This is because, the turbulence increases heat newlinetransfer rates leading to higher combustion. Insufficient turbulence provides low flame velocity, newlineincomplete combustion and reduces the power output, increases the unburnt carbon products thus newlineincreasing the NO,CO etc. resulting in high pollutant exhausts. Rate of flame propagation newlineaffects the combustion process in SI engines. Higher combustion efficiency and fuel economy newlinecan be achieved by higher flame propagation velocities. newlineNanotechnology contributes significantly to necessary developments and to the newlineproduction of innovative materials and processes in automotive sector. The crucial advantages newlineby the application of nanotechnology in the automobile sector are: lighter but stronger materials, newlineimproved engine efficiency for gasoline powered cars in the form of catalysts, fuel additives and newlinelubricants, reduced environmental impact from hydrogen and fuel cell-powered cars, improved newlineand miniaturized electronic systems and better economy. newlineThe main concern with nanomaterials and nanoadditives, is their environmental newlineimpact. newlineWhilst nanoadditives have demonstrated the potential to improve fuel efficiency and quality of newlineexhaust emissions quality of exhaust emissions, they may also cause environmental newlineissues if the