Enhancing NOx Reduction in CI Engines: Optimised EGR Strategies for Hevea Brasiliensis Biodiesel
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Abstract
The increasing demand for sustainable fuel alternatives and stringent emission regulations have prompted extensive research into biodiesel and Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) systems. This study investigates the effects of varying EGR percentages on the combustion performance and emission characteristics of Hevea Brasiliensis Biodiesel (HBBD20) blended with 120 ppm Carbon Nanotubes (CNT) in a Compression Ignition (CI) engine. The experiment was conducted using HBBD20 with different EGR ratios (10%, 20% and 30%) to evaluate Brake Thermal Efficiency (BTE), Brake-Specific Energy Consumption (BSEC) and key emissions, including Carbon Monoxide (CO), Unburnt Hydrocarbons (UBHC), Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) and smoke opacity. The results indicate that the integration of CNT nanoparticles significantly enhanced combustion efficiency by improving fuel atomisation and thermal conductivity. The optimised blend, 20% EGR with HBBD20 + CNT 120 ppm, demonstrated superior performance, reducing NOx emissions by 14.14% and improving fuel utilisation. However, higher EGR percentages led to increased CO and UBHC emissions due to incomplete combustion. Smoke emissions were effectively reduced, with the highest reduction observed at 20% EGR.
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