Increased hot-plate ignition probability for nanoparticle-laden diesel fuel.

The present study attempts to improve the ignition properties of diesel fuel by investigating the influence of adding aluminum and aluminum oxide nanoparticles to diesel. As part of this study, droplet ignition experiments were carried out atop a heated hot plate. Different types of fuel mixtures were used; both particle size (15 and 50 nm) as well as the volume fraction (0%, 0.1%, and 0.5%) of nanoparticles added to diesel were varied. For each type of fuel mixture, several droplets were dropped on the hot plate from a fixed height and under identical conditions, and the probability of ignition of that fuel was recorded based on the number of droplets that ignited. These experiments were repeated at several temperatures over the range of 688-768 degrees C. It was observed that the ignition probability for the fuel mixtures that contained nanoparticles was significantly higher than that of pure diesel.