Performance enhancement and emission reduction in Spark Ignition engines using Carbon Nanotubes and <scp>Zinc Oxide</scp> hybrid nanoparticles

Abstract The influence of carbon nanotube (CNT) and zinc oxide (ZnO) additives on the emissions and performance characteristics of a spark ignition (SI) engine was investigated in the current experimental study. Gasoline fuel was doped with these nanomaterials at concentrations of 50 and 100 ppm using ultrasonication. Experiments on the engine were conducted at various speeds under a constant load. The primary objective was to assess the combined effects of CNT and ZnO on engine performance and emissions. Performance metrics, including brake thermal efficiency (BTE), brake specific fuel consumption, and exhaust gas temperature, were evaluated. Emissions of hydrocarbons (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), and nitrogen oxides (NO x ) were also measured. The results indicated a notable increase in BTE of 9.5% when using the nano‐additive blend. Additionally, substantial reductions in HC and CO emissions were observed at higher engine speeds. Carbon dioxide emissions from blended fuels have increased compared to petroleum fuels. NO x emissions also decreased compared to the baseline gasoline‐fueled engine. These findings suggest that the addition of CNT and ZnO to gasoline fuel can enhance engine performance and reduce emissions.