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An experimental study of the effect of Magnetic Fluid Conditioner on the performance of Four Stroke Petrol Engine was conducted. A 4 cylinder, 4 stroke automotive petrol engine made by premier automobile was used. Experimental results obtained from the engine fitted with magnetic fluid conditioner were compared with the same engine without using magnetic fluid conditioner. It is observed that the abovementioned engine with magnetic fluid conditioner produces reduced percentage of CO to an extent of 16.87% whereas HC is reduced to an extent of 46.08%, Brake Specific Fuel Consumption (B.S.F.C.) is reduced to an extent of 3%, and the Brake Thermal efficiency increases to an extent of 3.5%. It has been also found that, the magnetic fluid conditioning system has caused an increase of % of CO in the exhaust fumes immediately after the installation of it, and after a period of 40 hrs. running the CO(%) has come down.

Vegetable oils are characterised as diesel engine fuel due to their properties of adiabatic combustion under high pressure and temperature. The semi-adiabatic type of engines can be effectively utilized for achieving the best performance from combustion of vegetable oils. The present study reports the performance and exhaust emissions of such type of engine by using diesel fuel - linseed oil blends and esterified linseed oil and the results as obtained are compared with that of 100% diesel fuel operation. The influence of coating thickness and compression ratio have also been reported. Results show that BSFC, exhaust gas temperature, CO level and smoke density are increased but Br. Th. Effic. and NOx level are decreased both in diesel fuel - linseed oil blends and esterified linseed oil compared to 100% diesel fuel operation. Results with esterified linseed oil are comparatively better than diesel fuel - linseed oil blends with higher degree of insulation.

Vegetable oil as a biomass-based energy, can be considered as possible alternative fuel. Neat Vegetable oil is too viscous, has poor volatility, comparatively low cetane number and having different chemical structures than diesel fuel. In DI diesel engine, these fuels can not be used without further processing. Modified or vegetable oils processed by esterification can mitigate these problems and become more suitable for diesel engine application. The present experimental study reports the performance and exhaust emissions of a DI diesel engine by using methyl esters karanji oil and heated karanji oil in comparison to 100% diesel operation. The influence of injection pressures and injection timings have also been reported. The data brake specific fuel consumption and brake thermal efficiency generated using esterified karanji oil and diesel are comparable. The maximum variation of the emission CO for esterified karanji oil is about 35% higher than that of diesel.

The growing pollution from automobiles and increasing awareness of harmful effects of the air due to pollution has resulted in more stringent emission control norms. Consequently earlier techniques of emission control such as combustion modification, water injection and exhaust gas recirculation have to be supplemented by advance exhaust gas after treatment to meet stringent regulations. The most efficient exhaust gas after treatment system envisages the use of a Catalytic Converter for oxidizing the Carbon monoxide (CO), and un-brunt Hydrocarbon(UBHC) to Carbon-dioxide (CO2) and water, and reducing the oxides of Nitrogen (NOx). The exhaust gas is made to pass through a catalytic bed which catalyses the conversion reactions for the different exhaust gas components. Three way catalysts (TWC) are, extensively used for simultaneous control of the three principal automotive pollutants, namely, carbon monoxide (CO), Hydrocarbon (HC) and Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx).

A simple and cost effective vitreous enamelling technique is being adopted in the application of thermal barrier coating for internal combustion (IC) engine components. The raw materials including the process of coating are less costly in comparison to plasma spray technique. The coating using yttria partially stabilized zirconia with this technique is found effective for insulation of the engine components. The results obtained from this process are comparable with the published results using plasma spray [1]*. At the speed of 1500 rpm, brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC) decreases upto 9.99% with 200 micron (μ) glass ceramic coating piston whereas with 500 μ coating, it decreases upto 19.67% with advanced injection angle (40° before top dead centre) resulting higher thermal efficiency compared to base line engine.

Three catalysts such as Cu-X, Cu-Ni-X, and Cu-Fe-X based on X-Zeolite have been developed by exchanging its Na+ with copper, Iron and Nickel metal ions and tested in a commercial Maruti 800 cc S I engine and some encouraging results for reduction of NOx and CO have been obtained. The bi-metal catalysts are named based on the order of ion-exchange treatment. Out of three catalysts, Cu-X catalyst exhibits the best NOx and CO conversion performance while Cu-Ni-X shows better performance compared to Cu-Fe-X catalysts at any catalyst temperature. Maximum NOx and CO conversion efficiencies achieved with Cu-X catalyst are 62.2% and 62.4%, with Cu-Ni-X catalyst are 47.0% and 50.0%, and with Cu-Fe-X are 43.1% and 43.8% respectively. Unlike noble metals, the doped X-Zeolite catalysts studied here, exhibit significant NOx reduction for a wide range of A/F ratio and exhibit a slow rate of decrease with increase in A/F ratio.

Copper ion-exchanged X-zeolite with urea infusion was tested for nitrogen oxide (NOx)conversion efficiency in this study. Temperature datapoints were obtained to arrive at peak activation temperatures. Variation of the air/fuel ratio showed the widening of the λ-window(the range of air-fuel ratios over which the NOx conversion efficiency is considerable); a maximum of 62% NOx conversion efficiency was obtained in the lean-burn range. Effects of space velocity variations were also observed. In order to minimise the deactivation of zeolite caused by water, ammonium carbonate and ammonium sulphate were deposited on the copper ion-exchanged X-zeolite and the corresponding NOx conversion efficiencies measured. Ammonia slip (leakage of unreacted ammonia), a prospective pollution hazard, was observed to be more in case of urea infusion than ammonium salt deposition at higher temperatures.

The experimental investigation was conducted on a CI version Ricardo variable compression single cylinder naturally aspirated engine to examine the effects of ceramic coating on performance and exhaust emissions. Tests were carried out at 1500rpm over a wide range of part loads, varying injection timings and compression ratios (CR). The top of the piston was insulated by using Yttria-partially stabilized zirconia with a bond coat alumino boro silicate. The technology by which the piston head was insulated is much more economical and simpler than the plasma-spray process usually used for coating with ceramics. Results show that at 30% of the rated load, BSFC decreases upto 9.99% at 40° injection bTDC (before top dead centre) for CR-19 resulting higher thermal efficiency than base line engine. Ignition delay is longer in ceramic coated engine than its counter part. For CR-18 and 19 these ranges are 1.3% to 7.94% at different injection timings.