Impact of MZO thermal barrier coating on diesel engine efficiency using juliflora methyl ester and MgO nanoparticles

The research investigates the influence of an MZO-based TBC on the performance and emission characteristics of a diesel engine mixed with JFME blends containing MgO nanoparticles. The experiments were conducted using a three-factor, three-level design with a load of 0–100 kg, a JFME blend ratio of 20–60%, and an MgO nanoparticle concentration of 30–50 ppm. The TBC and the addition of MgO nanoparticles improved combustion efficiency by enhancing fuel atomisation and catalytic oxidation , increasing BTE by about 8% for 17 test runs. BTE increases from 32% to 30% with the normal piston to 34.5% to 32.5% with the TBC. BSFC was gradually reduced by 10%, from 0.24 to 0.68 kg/kWh for the normal piston to 0.22–0.64 kg/kWh with the coated piston. Emission analysis, such as the reductions of CO emissions, is 0.01–0.11% to 0.009–0.095% volume, the hydrocarbon emission 35–63 to 30–56 ppm, and the smoke opacity 3.8–28.5 to 3.2–25 BSU. This is attributed to reduced heat loss, higher in-cylinder temperature, and the enhanced oxidation from oxygen-rich biodiesel and the catalytic effects of MgO nanoparticles that helped to improve atomisation and micro-level explosions. It is not ed that the Nox increased from 560–797 to 610–880 ppm due to raised combustion temperatures. Quadratic regression models incorporating main, interaction and quadratic terms confirmed statistically significant effects (p < 0.05) of all parameters on every response. The MZO-based TBC, combined with JFME oxygenation and MgO catalytic activity, enhanced efficiency and reduced incomplete combustion emissions, with the increase in NOx representing the primary factors.