INVESTIGATION OF EMISSION PROPERTIES OF A COMPRESSION IGNITION ENGINE USING WATER – DIESEL EMULSION FUEL

Nilesh A. Patil; R. K. Shukla

doi:10.4314/njt.2025.5403

Authors

N. A. Patil Mechanical Engineering Department, Medicaps University, Indore, MP 453331
R. K. Shukla Department of Mechanical Engineering, Medicaps University, Indore, MP 453331

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4314/njt.2025.5403

Keywords:

Compression Ignition Engine, Water-Diesel Emulsion (WDE), Alternative Fuel, Emission Reduction

Abstract

Abstract

The growing environmental problems linked to regular diesel fuel, like greenhouse gas emissions and particulate matter, people are looking for cleaner, more sustainable options. Water-Diesel Emulsion (WDE) fuel has become a promising option because it can cut down on harmful pollutants without needing to change the structure of current engines. A study examined the emission profiles of a single-cylinder, four-stroke compression ignition engine utilising water-diesel emulsion fuels with different water concentrations. The findings indicated that elevating the water concentration in diesel fuel markedly influences combustion dynamics and emission characteristics. With 10 % WDE under full load conditions, NOx emissions went down by as much as 30 %. This was mostly because water cools things down. The smoke opacity went down by 10 %, which means that the combustion was more complete and the air-fuel mixing was better because of the micro-explosion effect. But there was a small rise in carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbon emissions, especially at lower loads. With neat diesel the 10 % water–diesel emulsion (WDE10) reduced NOx emissions by 30 % at full load and decreased smoke opacity by 10 % across the tested load range. However, CO and unburned hydrocarbons (HC) increased at certain operating points (CO rose 15 % for WDE10 under selected loads), while CO₂ showed an increase of 8% at high loads, indicating measurable trade-offs. The results indicate that WDE is a feasible and effective method for improving combustion efficiency and decreasing significant emissions in CI engines, providing an immediate and economic transition strategy towards cleaner fuels while utilising current diesel infrastructure.

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