Evaluation of performance, emissions and combustion attributes of CI engine using palmyra biodiesel blend with distinct compression ratios, EGR rates and nano-particles

[Display omitted] •Engine operating parameters are studied for the palmyra biodiesel.•Reformulation of biodiesel is investigated by the addition of nanoparticle.•Nanoparticle proportion greatly improvise engine output characteristics.•BTE is increased for nanoparticle addition due to its catalytic effect.•NOx emission is reduced for the addition of EGR rates. This paper presents the use of palmyra oil biodiesel as a prospective renewable alternate fuel for diesel engines. An experimental study has been conducted with an intention to enhance the engine characteristics of Palmyra oil methyl ester (POME) blended diesel by the approach of varying the compression ratio, different EGR rates along the amalgamation of Nano additives in the fuel. The Palmyra oil methyl ester (POME) blends of 10%, 20% and 30% are preliminarily examined, the POME20 blend exhibited better performance compared to other blends and factored as a preferable blend. Hence the investigation has been proceeded using POME20 at different loads. From the experimental results it was observed that brake thermal efficiency was enhanced by 2.72% and BSFC was lowered by 7.8% and reduction in exhaust emissions like carbon monoxide, unburnt hydrocarbons and smoke opacity by 17.64%, 13.8% and 3.5% respectively were found at CR20:1 when related to CR18:1, but, NOx emissions were found to be increased. While the added 6% and 12% of EGR to POME20-CR20 results showed a reduction in the NOx emission compared to diesel. Though the 12% EGR has shown a greater reduction in NOx its performance has greatly deteriorated than the 6% EGR. However, the result of amalgamating the fuel with alumina and ceria nanoparticles has given encouraging BSFC results, compared to diesel fuel POME20 at CR20 and 6% of EGR added with 100 ppm of Al2O3 and CeO2 nanoparticles was less than 15.15% and 6.06%. Overall it can be highlighted that with an aid of combined engine design (CR), control (EGR rate) and fuel reformulation approach the efficient utilization of POME biodiesel blended diesel fuel in the CI engines has been facilitated.