Analyzing the storage stability of diesel emulsified fuels: a comparative standpoint

ABSTRACT

The storage stability of a diesel emulsified fuel plays a crucial role in its commercial application and carries forward its environment-friendly advantage of lowering nitrogen oxides and particulate matter emissions. This article compares storage stability aspects of hydrous ethanol-diesel-Al₂O₃ nano (HEDA) and hydrous ethanol-diesel-Al₂O₃ nano-Pemulen TR-2 (HEDAP) emulsified fuels via various stability tests (visual inspection, heat storage test, centrifuge test, pH test, density, and viscosity measurements) under freeze-thaw storage condition. The production cost analysis was made to find their commercial suitability. Stability test results found higher storage stability of HEDA fuel, compared to that of HEDAP fuel. A heterogeneous mixing of Pemulen TR-2 and its weaker hydrogen bonding with other compounds could be major factors to lower the stability of HEDAP fuel. The stability of both fuels decreased with an increase in the water proportion. HEDA fuel production cost estimation was found to be lower than HEDAP fuel and slightly higher compared to diesel, which was a good sign of its commercial applicability. The powder X-ray diffraction analysis reported 41.28 nm average crystallites size of Al₂O₃ nanoparticles. HEDA emulsified fuel showed better storage stability along with a lower production cost in comparison with the HEDAP fuel.

Graphical Abstract

KEYWORDS:

• Hydrous ethanol
• stability
• emulsion
• Al₂O₃ nano
• Pemulen TR-2
• freeze-thaw
• diesel

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr B R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology Jalandhar, India, for financial assistance (Ref. No. NITJ/TEQIP-II/R&D/2017/6067-76) and Lubrizol Advanced Materials, Europe for Pemulen TR-2.

The authors did not report any potential conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Dr B R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology Jalandhar, Punjab, India [NITJ/TEQIP-II/R&D/2017/6067-76].

Notes on contributors

Vishal Vasistha

Vishal Vasistha, PhD research scholar in mechanical engineering department of Dr B R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology Jalandhar India, is involved in preparation and stability studies of diesel emulsified fuel and its application in diesel engine.

Rabinder Singh Bharj

R S Bharj, Associate professor in mechanical engineering department of Dr B R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology Jalandhar India, is involved in research related to alternative fuels and internal combustion engines from last 30 years.