The Effect of Titanium Oxide Content in Piston Coating on the Performance and Emission Characteristics of Bio-Diesel Fuelled C.I. Engine

Thermal barrier coating has proven to be effective in improving the thermal efficiency and initiation of an effective cooling system of the engine. In the present work the engine piston crown was plasma coated with 150μm thicknss of catalytic ceramic material Alumina-Titanium oxide (Al2O3-TiO2) over a 60μm thickness of NiCrAl bond coat. Available literature on this topic suggest that the particular effect of TiO2 on the over all thermal barrier characteristics have not been established clearly. It was therefore felt that the effect of weight percentage of TiO2 in the Al2O3-TiO2, might influence the performance and emission characteristics of the engine. The TiO2 weight % has been tested at 10% and 15% levels. The engine used was four strokes, single cylinder direct injected diesel engine. The engine was tested with diesel & at 30% Honge bio-diesel with diesel and the results obtained clearly indicate that the specific fuel consumption, CO & HC emissions have come down by increasing the weight % of TiO2.