Investigation of Properties of Diesel Fuel and Carbon Nanotubes Mixture and Characteristics of its Atomization

The fuel economy and exhaust emissions of diesel engines can be improved by adding carbon nanotubes to petroleum diesel fuel. Carbon nanotubes, used as a promising nanoscale additive for diesel fuel, have high thermal conductivity and a large surface area to volume ratio. The thermophysical properties of these fuels, which depend on the composition of the mixtures, are analyzed in this study. Findings of research show that carbon nanotubes added to diesel fuel have little effect on its dynamic viscosity and thermal conductivity. By means of numerical models, we simulated the process of atomization and evaporation of diesel fuel with the different carbon nanotubes content in a constant volume combustion chamber. The accuracy of the calculations is confirmed by the good agreement between the calculated and experimental data. Simulation of mixture atomization showed that the jet length linearly depends on the carbon nanotubes content in diesel fuel. The more carbon nanotubes are in the mixture, the smaller the droplet Sauter mean diameter and the angle of the jet cone opening are. The presence of carbon nanotubes in diesel fuel insignificantly affects the fuel vapor content in it.

References

[1] Naddaf A., Heris S.Z. Density and rheological properties of different nanofluids based on diesel oil at different mass concentrations. J. Therm. Anal. Calorim., 2019, vol. 135, no. 2, pp. 1229–1242, doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-018-7456-8

[2] Naddaf A., Heris S.Z. Experimental study on thermal conductivity and electrical conductivity of diesel oil-based nanofluids of graphene nanoplatelets and carbon nanotubes. Int. Commun. Heat Mass Transf., 2018, vol. 95, pp. 116–122, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icheatmasstransfer.2018.05.004

[3] Kim P., Shi L., Majumdar A., et al. Thermal transport measurements of individual multiwalled nanotubes. Phys. Rev. Lett., 2001, vol. 87, no. 21, art. 215502, doi: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.87.215502

[4] Yu C., Shi L., Yao Z., et al. Thermal conductance and thermopower of an individual single-wall carbon nanotube. Nano Lett., 2005, vol. 5, no. 9, pp. 1842–1846, doi: https://doi.org/10.1021/nl051044e

[5] Goswami L., Kim K.H., Deep A., et al. Engineered nano particles: nature, behavior, and effect on the environment. J. Environ. Manage., 2017, vol. 196, pp. 297–315, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.01.011

[6] Basha J.S., Anand R.B. An experimental investigation in a diesel engine using carbon nanotubes blended water–diesel emulsion fuel. P. I. Mech. Eng., A.-J. Pow., 2011, vol. 225, no. 3, pp. 279–288, doi: https://doi.org/10.1177%2F2041296710394247

[7] EL-Seesy A.I., Kosaka H., Hassan H., et al. Combustion and emission characteristics of a common rail diesel engine and RCEM fueled by n-heptanol-diesel blends and carbon nanomaterial additives. Energ. Convers. Manage., 2019, vol. 196, pp. 370–394, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2019.05.049

[8] Heydari-Maleney K., Taghizadeh-Alisaraei A., Ghobadian B., et al. Analyzing and evaluation of carbon nanotubes additives to diesohol-B2 fuels on performance and emission of diesel engines. Fuel, 2017, vol. 196, pp. 110–123, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2017.01.091

[9] Ramakrishnan G., Krishnan P., Rathinam S., et al. Role of nano-additive blended biodiesel on emission characteristics of the research diesel engine. Int. J. Green Energy, 2019, vol. 16, no. 6, pp. 435–441, doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/15435075.2019.1577742

[10] Gad M.S., Gadow S.I. Enhancement of combustion characteristics and emissions reductions of a diesel engine using biodiesel and carbon nanotube. Fuller. Nanotub. Carbon Nanostructures, 2021, vol. 29, no. 4, pp. 267–279, doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/1536383X.2020.1837779

[11] Markov V., Kamaltdinov V., Zherdev A., et al. Study on the possibility of improving the environmental performance of diesel engine using carbon nanotubes as a petroleum diesel fuel additive. Energies, 2019, vol. 12, no. 22, pp. 4345, doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/en12224345

[12] Najafi G. Diesel engine combustion characteristics using nano-particles in biodiesel-diesel blends. Fuel, 2018, vol. 212, pp. 668–678, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2017.10.001

[13] Basha J.S., Anand R.B. The influence of nano additive blended biodiesel fuels on the working characteristics of a diesel engine. J. Braz. Soc. Mech. Sci. Eng., 2013, vol. 35, no. 3, pp. 257–264, doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40430-013-0023-0

[14] Sunil S., Prasad B.S.C., Kotresh M., et al. Studies on suitability of multiwalled CNT as catalyst in combustion on a CI engine fueled with dairy waste biodiesel blends. Mater. Today, 2020, vol. 26-2, pp. 613–619, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2019.12.179

[15] Mei D., Sun C., Li L., et al. Evaporation characteristics of fuel sessile droplets with nanoparticles. Energ. Source., Part A, 2019, vol. 41, no. 6, pp. 677–688, doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/15567036.2018.1520350

[16] Khond V.W., Kriplani V.M. Experimental investigation and modeling of the evaporation rate of carbon nanotube blended emulsified Neem biodiesel. Biofuels, 2019, vol. 10, no. 4, pp. 485–491, doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/17597269.2017.1323322

[17] Mahian O., Kolsi L., Amani M., et al. Recent advances in modeling and simulation of nanofluid flows-Part I: Fundamentals and theory. Phys. Rep., 2019, vol. 790, pp. 1–48, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physrep.2018.11.004

[18] Grekhov L.V., Ivashchenko N.A., Markov V.A. Sistemy toplivopodachi i upravleniya dizeley [Diesel fuel delivery and control systems]. Moscow, Legion-Avtodata Publ., 2005. 344 p. (In Russ.).

[19] Markov V.A., Devyanin S.N., Zykov S.A., et al. Viscosity characteristics of multicomponent mixed biofuels based on vegetable oils. Transport na al’ternativnom toplive [Alternative Fuel Transport], 2016, no. 6, pp. 33–49. (In Russ.).

[20] Laurent C., Flahaut E., Peigney A. The weight and density of carbon nanotubes versus the number of wall sand diameter. Carbon, 2010, vol. 48, no. 10, pp. 2994–2996, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbon.2010.04.010

[21] Khanafer K., Vafai K. A critical synthesis of thermophysical characteristics of nanofluids. Int. J. Heat Mass Transf., 2011, vol. 54, no. 19–20, pp. 4410–4428, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2011.04.048

[22] El-Seesy A.I., Abdel-Rahman A.K., Bady M., et al. Performance, combustion, and emission characteristics of a diesel engine fueled by biodiesel-diesel mixtures with multi-walled carbon nanotubes additives. Energy Convers. Manag., 2017, vol. 135, pp. 373–393, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2016.12.090

[23] Pak B.C., Cho Y.I. Hydrodynamic and heat transfer study of dispersed fluids with submicron metallic oxide particles. Exp. Heat Transf., 1998, vol. 11, no. 2, pp. 151–170, doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/08916159808946559

[24] Kavtaradze R.Z. Teoriya porshnevykh dvigateley. Spetsial’nye glavy [Theory of piston engines. Special chapters]. Moscow, Mashinostroenie Publ., 2008. 720 p. (In Russ.).

[25] Li C., Chou T-W. Modeling of heat capacities of multi-walled carbon nanotubes by molecular structural mechanics. Mater. Sci. Eng. A., 2005, vol. 409, no. 1–2, pp. 140–144, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msea.2005.07.058

[26] Nan C.W., Liu G., Lin Y., et al. Interface effect on thermal conductivity of carbon nanotube composites. Appl. Phys. Lett., 2004, vol. 85, no. 16, pp. 3549–3551, doi: https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1808874

[27] Nan C.W., Birringer R., Clarke D.R., et al. Effective thermal conductivity of particulate composites with interfacial thermal resistance. J. Appl. Phys., 1997, vol. 81, no. 10, pp. 6692–6699, doi: https://doi.org/10.1063/1.365209

[28] Han Z., Fina A. Thermal conductivity of carbon nanotubes and their polymer nanocomposites: a review. Prog. Polym. Sci., 2011, vol. 36, no. 7, pp. 914–944, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.progpolymsci.2010.11.004

[29] Alaghemandi M., Algaer E., Bohm M.C., et al. The thermal conductivity and thermal rectification of carbon nanotubes studied using reverse non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations. Nanotechnology, 2009, vol. 20, no. 11, art. 115704, doi: https://doi.org/10.1088/0957-4484/20/11/115704

[30] Chiu H-Y., Deshpande V.V., Postma HWC., et al. Ballistic phonon thermal transport in multiwalled carbon nanotubes. Phys. Rev. Lett., 2005, vol. 95, no. 22, art. 226101, doi: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.95.226101

[31] Spray a nozzle geometry. ecn.sandia.gov: website. URL: https://ecn.sandia.gov/diesel-spray-combustion/target-condition/spray-a-nozzle-geometry/ (accessed: 03.03.2021).

[32] Rate of injection. cmt.upv.es: website. URL: https://www.cmt.upv.es/ECN03.aspx (accessed: 03.03.2021).

[33] Beale J.C., Reitz R.D. Modeling spray atomization with the Kelvin-Helmholtz/Rayleigh-Taylor hybrid model. At. Sprays, 1999, vol. 9, no. 6, pp. 623–650, doi: https://doi.org/10.1615/AtomizSpr.v9.i6.40

[34] Schmidt D.P., Rutland C.J. A new droplet collision algorithm. J. Comput. Phys., 2000, vol. 164, no. 1, pp. 62–80, doi: https://doi.org/10.1006/jcph.2000.6568

[35] Amsden A.A. KIVA-II: a computer program for chemically reactive flows with sprays. Report of Los Alamos National Laboratory, 1989. 163 p.

[36] Pickett L.M., Genzale C.L., Manin J. Uncertainty quantification for liquid penetration of evaporating sprays at diesel-like conditions. At. Sprays, 2015, vol. 25, no. 5, pp. 425–452, doi: https://doi.org/10.1615/AtomizSpr.2015010618

[37] Spray a vapor penetration length. ecn.sandia.gov: website. URL: https://ecn.sandia.gov/cvdata/assets/datafiles/pen/bkldaAL1-pen.txt (accessed: 03.03.2021).

[38] Aboalhamayie A., Festa L., Ghamari M. Evaporation rate of colloidal droplets of jet fuel and carbon-based nanoparticles: effect of thermal conductivity. Nanomaterials, 2019, vol. 9, no. 9, art. 1297, doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/nano9091297

[39] Chang C.T., Farrell P.V. A study on the effects of fuel viscosity and nozzle geometry on high injection pressure diesel spray characteristics. SAE Trans., 1997, vol. 106, pp. 558–567.

[40] Dernotte J., Hespel C., Houille S., et al. Influence of fuel properties on the diesel injection process in nonvaporizing conditions. At. Sprays, 2012, vol. 22, no. 6, pp. 461–492, doi: https://doi.org/10.1615/AtomizSpr.2012004401

[41] Wang X., Huang Z., Kuti O.A., et al. Experimental and analytical study on biodiesel and diesel spray characteristics under ultra-high injection pressure. Int. J. Heat Fluid Flow, 2010, vol. 31, no. 4, pp. 659–666, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatfluidflow.2010.03.006

[42] Kuti O.A., Sarathy S.M., Nishida K. Spray combustion simulation study of waste cooking oil biodiesel and diesel under direct injection diesel engine conditions. Fuel, 2020, vol. 267, art. 117240, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2020.117240

[43] Zhang Z. Investigation into fuel pre-treatments for combustion improvement on a compression ignition engine. Newcastle University, 2019. 203 p.