Abstract
Alternative fuel opportunities can satisfy energy security and reduce carbon emissions. In this regard, the hydrogen fuel is derived from the source of environmental pollutants like sewage and algae wastewater through hydrothermal gasification technique using a KOH catalyst with varied gasification process parameters of duration and temperature of 6-30 min and 500-800 °C. The novelty of the work is to identify the optimum gasification process parameter for obtaining the maximum hydrogen yield using a KOH catalyst as an alternative fuel for agricultural engine applications. Influences of gasification processing time and temperature on H(2) selectivity, Carbon gasification efficiency (CE), Lower heating value (LHV), Hydrogen yield potential (HYP), and gasification efficiency (GE) were studied. Its results showed that the gasifier operated at 800 °C for 30 min, offering maximum hydrogen yield (26 mol/kg) and gasification efficiency (58 %). The synthesized H(2) was an alternative fuel blended with diesel fuel/TiO(2) nanoparticles. It was experimentally studied using an internal combustion engine. Influences of H(2) on engine performance, like brake-specific fuel consumption, brake thermal efficiency and emission performances, were measured and compared with diesel fuel. The results showed that DH20T has the least (420g/kWh) brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC) and superior brake thermal efficiency of about 25.2 %. The emission results revealed that the DH20T blend showed the NO(X) value increased by almost 10.97 % compared to diesel fuel, whereas the CO, UHC, and smoke values reduced by roughly 31.25, 28.34, and 42.35 %. The optimum fuel blend (DH20T) result is recommended for agricultural engine applications.