Experimental Investigation of Indirect Aqueous Inoculated Diesel Engine Performance in Urban-Area Driving for Mechanical Performance, Fuel Consumption and NOx Emissions

The parametric assessment of upgrading a car diesel engine through indirect aqueous inoculation was determined by conducting experimentation at urban-area driving conditions. The experimental investigation was done through the comparative analysis of four parameters which included mechanical performance (shaft torque and shaft power), fuel consumption and NOx emission. An intra-parameter comparative study is presented at changing aqueous inoculation proportions to investigate the variations in the behaviour of each parameter separately. A percent change comparison among all the studied parameters as an effect of installation of aqueous inoculation is also presented to reach at a conclusion. Aqueous inoculation proportions were fluctuated from 3 to 11 kg/h while keeping diesel quantity constant for each set of experimentation. This displayed a decrease in NOx emissions by 36 to 82% with associated decrease in mechanical performance parameters by 0 to 7% and increase of fuel consumption by 0 to 7% respectively depending upon the speed and loading conditions of the engine. The end conclusion of the research proved that the upgradation of car diesel engine using indirect aqueous inoculation has a potential for decreasing NOx emissions in large amounts without compromising fuel consumption and mechanical performance in urban-area driving scenario.