A Comprehensive Study for the Algae-Ethanol Biofuels for Diesel Engines: Performance and Environmental Considerations.

Abstract

This comprehensive review investigates into the escalating field of algae-ethanol fuel blends for compression ignition (CI) engines, offering a detailed analysis of the studies conducted in this field. The addition of ethanol to algae based blends enhances their performance, combustion characteristics, and emissions.The collective findings emphasize the significant impact of algae-ethanol fuels on engine performance and emissions reduction. Blending algae-based biofuels with ethanol and diesel has consistently demonstrated favourable outcomes across various engine types. The B20 blend, comprising 20% ethanol and 80% diesel, has consistently exhibited enhanced brake thermal efficiency (BTE) and reduced emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), and particulate matter (PM). The optimization techniques studied, including response surface methodology (RSM), Taguchi method, and artificial neural networks (ANN), have proven effective in fine-tuning engine parameters to maximize efficiency and minimize emissions. Additives such as glycerol ethoxylate (GE), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and n-pentanol have also been explored to enhance ignition and combustion characteristics. Life cycle analysis (LCA) studies have highlighted the environmental benefits of algae-ethanol fuels, showcasing reduced environmental impact compared to petroleum-based fuels. Biodiesel derived from algae exhibits the potential to enhance BTE by up to 5%, accompanied by significant reductions in CO, HC, and NOx emissions. Ethanol, when added to the mix, can further improve BTE by as much as 3%, with notable reductions in CO and HC emissions.The incorporation of nanoparticles such as CeO2 and Al2O3 has shown promise in enhancing engine performance and reducing emissions when added to algae-ethanol blends.