Abstract For both environmental and geopolitical reasons, there is a strong push to transition to renewable energy. In the transportation sector, this has manifest as both electrification and increased adoption of biofuel. For light duty vehicles, electrification is sufficient, but in heavier vehicles, it is clear that a hybrid model will be the way forward for some time. Heavy duty vehicles require the most torque at low speed and low engine rpm. While biodiesel has many positive aspects, it’s specific energy density is about ~40 MJ/kg while petro-diesel is ~ 45 MJ/kg. Increasing the energy density of biodiesel is a critical aspect to enable widespread adoption, and this project aims to directly tackle this issue. Higher energy density means a lower volume of fuel is required, and this significantly reduces the extent of any fire. This project will develop “Green Nanofuel” where nano structured energetic and catalytic materials/particles are used with liquid fuel which increase the energy density and fuel economy, while reducing the required volume, as well as GHG and PM emission. Previous studies by the PI have shown that carbon-based nano-additive can significantly modify the energy density of liquid fuels, and that these behaviors can be tailored based on the specific requirement. In Year 1, test will be carried out on various combination of carbon dots to demonstrate 45 MJ/kg energy density in biodiesel. In Year 2, the stability period of carbon nanoparticles containing biodiesel will be optimized though changing surfactant type and concentration. Work in Year 3 will focus on fire testing to validate the fire safety improvements. In Year 4, test mixtures of the enhanced Biodiesel and petro-diesel to make sure mixtures perform as required. Year 5 focuses on commercialization related testing, like low and high temperature performance and on testing in real diesel vehicles.
Description The focus of this project will be evaluating the biocompatible and bio-degradable carbon nanoparticles (e.g.: Carbon dots) as fuel additive for biodiesel particularly enhancing the energy content of biodiesel without compromising the positive benefits associated of using biodiesel. The work will also include technology transfer issues like testing, tuning, and validating the fuel additive mixture performance when combined with existing fuel additives, low and high temperature storage and operation, and other performance specifications as needed for commercial introduction.
Objective Three key focus areas have been identified for this project: (1) Combustion behavior quantification of various formulations through droplet combustion experiments and achieving the target energy density, (2) suspension stability period enhancement and surfactant concentration optimization through in-house suspension stability period analysis, and (3) Compatibility assessment of the most prospective carbon nanoparticles fuel additive with the other existing fuel additives for biodiesel, storage requirements, and identifying and addressing operation and performance specifications for commercialization.
Impacts/Benefits This research will result in widespread adoption of biodiesel which is expected to make the ground transportation system (heavy duty diesel vehicles) environment friendly and sustainable. In addition, droplet combustion process, stability period characterization and inherent thermo-physical mechanism is expected to make an impact on the science behind combustion and ignition of liquid fuels with different carbon nanoparticles. Modifying liquid fuel combustion characteristics by additives is of obvious interest in the scientific as well as industrial community. Finding optimum concentrations range of additives (nanoparticles) at which combustion characteristics and stability period are optimal would save costs during eventual industry technology implementation.