Nanofuel Combustion Dynamics in Engine Performance

Rapid development of engine technologies places renewed emphasis on fuel composition and combustion. Nanofuels incorporate nanoscale particles within conventional liquid fuels to modulate heat release, ignition delay and pollutant formation. The presence of metal or carbon-based nanoparticles can alter thermo-physical properties by enhancing thermal conductivity, promoting secondary atomisation and inducing micro-explosions within fuel droplets. These phenomena lead to more uniform spray patterns, accelerated burning rates and reduced unburned residues, offering potential improvements in brake thermal efficiency and decreases in emissions of hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides. Understanding the interplay between particle concentration, droplet dynamics and in-cylinder conditions is crucial for optimising engine performance across a range of operating regimes, from diesel to aviation turbine applications. Global efforts focus on balancing energy density with stability and environmental impact, underpinned by experimental, computational and spectroscopic studies that elucidate combustion pathways at the micro- and macroscale.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have elucidated the coupled mechanisms that govern effective nanoparticle participation within burning nanofluid droplets. One foundational investigation characterised the competition between secondary atomisation and particle agglomeration, demonstrating that dilute suspensions favour frequent bubble-ejection events that rupture surface shells and transport particles into the flame, while dense loadings lead to agglomerated shells that retain particles and alter residue morphology. This feedback coupling translates directly into combustion efficiency and pollutant profiles, and suggests routes to tailor droplet formulations for specific engine conditions and desired emission characteristics.

Nanofuel Combustion Dynamics in Engine Performance publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in nanofuel combustion dynamics in engine performance across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Nanofuel: A liquid fuel containing suspended nanoparticles that enhance its thermal and combustion properties.

Secondary atomisation: The breakup of fuel droplets into smaller fragments under combustion-induced forces, improving spray evaporation and flame propagation.

Agglomeration: The clustering of nanoparticles at the droplet surface, which can form shells and inhibit particle release into the flame.

Micro-explosion: A rapid internal droplet fragmentation event caused by volatile vapour build-up or nanoparticle interactions, leading to secondary atomisation.

D²-law: A classical model describing droplet evaporation or combustion, where the square of the droplet diameter decreases linearly with time under constant conditions.

References

1. Coupled Mechanisms of Precipitation and Atomization in Burning Nanofluid Fuel Droplets. Scientific Reports (2015).
2. Influence of aluminum nanoparticles in alternative fuel: Single droplet combustion experiments and modeling. Fuel (2025).
3. Ignition Delay and Burning Rate Analysis of Diesel–Carbon Nanotube Blends Stabilized by a Surfactant: A Droplet-Scale Study. Energies (2023).
4. Secondary Atomization and Micro-Explosion Effect Induced by Surfactant and Nanoparticles on Enhancing the Combustion Performance of Al/JP-10/OA Nanofluid Fuel. Molecules (2024).