Investigation of the effects of single and double-walled carbon nanotube utilization on diesel engine combustion, emissions, and performance

In this study, single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) and double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNT) were separately added to diesel fuel to investigate their effects on the combustion, performance, and emission characteristics of a diesel engine. SWCNT and DWCNT were added to diesel fuel at concentrations of 100 mg/L with the assistance of ultrasonication, resulting in the creation of DFCNT-1 and DFCNT-2 fuels. Fuel samples were tested at 1500 rpm under varying load conditions. The results indicated significant increases in combustion parameters such as cylinder pressure (CP), Net Heat Release Rate (NHRR), Rate of Pressure Rise (ROPR), Cumulative Heat Release (CHR), and average gas temperature (MGT) for DFCNT-1 and DFCNT-2 fuels. Additionally, the use of DFCNT-1 and DFCNT-2 fuels led to a decrease in carbon monoxide and smoke emissions while nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide emissions increased. The Brake Specific Fuel Consumption (BSFC) decreased by 7.59% and 4.29% with the use of DFCNT-1 and DFCNT-2, respectively. Moreover, a shorter ignition delay (ID) and combustion duration (CD) were observed with DFCNT-1 and DFCNT-2 fuels. Overall, it was concluded that the addition of SWCNT was more effective than DWCNT in terms of combustion efficiency, performance, and emissions.