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The effect of TiO2/ethylene glycol-based nanocoolant on the pollutant emissions from a diesel passenger van at Quito ambient conditions

Abstract:

In recent years, nanofluids have captured great attention due to their enhanced thermal properties in comparison to conventional pristine base fluids. Among them, TiO<inf>2</inf> nanofluids have shown outstanding improvements on heat exchange transfer and thermal conductivity at extremely low TiO<inf>2</inf> volume fractions. However, there is a lack of research on nanofluid applications in cooling systems of internal combustion engine vehicles and their influence on the pollutant emissions from these mobile sources. Thus, in this work a nanofluid, composed of 0.5 vol.% TiO<inf>2</inf> nanoparticles and a commercial ethylene glycol-based coolant, was prepared to assess their effect on CO<inf>2</inf>, CO, NO<inf>x</inf>, hydrocarbon (HC) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) emissions from a diesel passenger van under the IM-240 cycle, at Quito ambient conditions (2800 m.a.m.s.l.). Therefore, the use of TiO<inf>2</inf>-based nanofluids allowed improving the thermal efficiency of the engine, as demonstrated by the rise of CO<inf>2</inf> emissions (2%), along with the consequent reduction of CO, HC and mainly PM2.5 up to 16, 17 and 60%, respectively. The substantial decrease in PM2.5 by using TiO<inf>2</inf>-nanocoolant could drop the impact of diesel vehicles on human health, particularly on cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.