Combustion and Fuel

Combustion and Fuel

Combustion and Fuel is a research platform encompassing research in combustion and fuel sciences, biofuels, fuelling strategies for emission mitigation, flame studies, and internal combustion engines. This platform is multidisciplinary bringing students and researchers from engineering and science backgrounds to work together. The Combustion and Fuel team is also committed to research contributions that support the UN's sustainable development goals, in particular SDG 7 (Affordable and clean energy).

Effects of carbon-based nanoparticles on the micro-explosion and combustion behaviours of palm oil biodiesel microdroplet

The superior thermal conductivity and nanoscale attributes of carbon-based nanoparticles (CNPs) can significantly improve the combustion properties of fossil diesel and biodiesel. In this study, the micro-explosion and combustion characteristics of palm oil biodiesel added with CNPs at different concentrations are investigated using an isolated droplet combustion experiment setup. The temporal evolution of a burning microdroplet is captured using a high-speed imaging technique. The addition of CNPs in palm oil biodiesel increased the micro-explosion intensity while the micro-explosion count decreased. Palm oil biodiesel added with CNPs also shortened the ignition delay, increased the combustion rate constant, and shortened the combustion period compared to that of palm oil biodiesel without CNPs. The results suggest that palm oil biodiesel with CNPs addition can significantly improve the thermal efficiency and reduce emissions in diesel engines.

Optimization of the performance and exhaust emissions of a diesel engine fuelled with biodiesel blends using response surface methodology

Vastly increasing worldwide demand for energy, continuous rise in global warming, and the progressive depletion of fossil fuels led to an intensive search for biodiesel as alternative fuel for diesel engines. Biodiesel has become the centre of attraction among researchers due to its renewable, biodegradable, and non-toxic attributes. However, the in-cylinder combustion performance of palm biodiesel is inferior compared to diesel fuel owing to its higher viscosity, surface tension, and lower volatility. Poor combustible mixture formation and inefficient combustion would cause low engine efficiency and significant formation of nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter (PM), unburned hydrocarbons (UHCs), and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions. Nonetheless, other biofuels like alcohol or furan can be blended with biodiesel to improve the combustion performance for diesel engines owing to their remarkable attributes. In this study, the effect of different biofuels addition in biodiesel and the effect of different engine load amd speed on the performance and emission characteristics of a diesel engine will be investigated. An empirical statistical model will be developed using the response surface methodology (RSM) to establish a mathematical relationship between the engine response variables (e.g., engine performance and emissions) and the input variables (e.g., biofuel blend, and engine speed and load) from the experiment data. Then, the developed RSM model will be validated against the experimental data by statistical analysis and the optimal conditions of engine load and biofuel blends will be determined using the desirability approach based RSM




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Dr Ooi Jong Boon

Dr Ooi heads the Combustion & Fuels Research team under Energy & Sustainability platform. He is currently a Senior Lecturer of Mechanical Engineering discipline. His research interests are in combustion science, internal combustion engines, biofuels, fuel blending optimization, emission reduction strategies, and nanomaterials. He is a Chartered Engineer with the Engineering Council and a member of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), UK. He is an Editorial board member for the Energy Research Journal, Science Publications.

Current GRS

Mr Chow Ming Rong

Ming Rong received his BEng (Hons) inn Chemical Engineering from Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), Malaysia in 2019. He is currently pursuing his Master by Research in UTAR. His research focuses on the blending effects of diethyl ether and ethanol on the combustion and emission behaviours of Malaysian palm oil biodiesel droplets.

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Mr Kamalakrishnan

Kamalakrishnan received his BEng (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering from Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia in 2019. He worked as a Research Assistant in Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, researching in the field of Advance Material after pursuing his Master's degree by Research focusing on effect of sintering parameters on the mechanical properties of Hydroxyapatite-Forsterite composite ceramics.

Alumni

Mr Doresharan Gangatharan

Doresharan obtained his Diploma in Mechanical Engineering from Ungku Omar Polytechnic, Malaysia in 2008. His research work was on studying the effects of diethyl ether on the combustion characteristics of palm oil biodiesel droplets using single droplet experiment. He has successfully completed his Master Engineering by Coursework at UTAR in 2021.

Final Year Project Students

  • Wan Shijun (2021)
  • Lee Mun Him (2021)
  • Tsien Jun Rong (2021)
  • Lim Jen Zhi (2020-2021)
  • Chan Qie Wei (2020-2021)
  • Chee Kong Meng (2020)
  • Ong Juen Hau (2020)
  • Chow Geng Yong (2020)
  • Pun Chun Hoe (2020)
  • Chuah Say Hoong (2018-2019)
  • Tan Soon Loong (2018-2019)
  • Ong Wei An (2018)
  • Lim Pin Jie (2018)
  • James Gan Ka Seng, (2018)
  • Tan Yong Han (2018)
  • Yap Jinng-Hui (2017-2018)
  • Chong Ching Cheng (2017-2018)
  • Pau Kat King (2017)
  • Terran Tsai Ming How (2017)

Recent Publications

  1. Ittoo B, Ooi JB, Tran M-V, Jaliliantabar F, Hasan Najafi G, Swamy V. Effects of dispersed multiwalled carbon nanotubes on the micro-explosion and combustion characteristics of 2-methylfuran – diesel mixture droplets. Fuel 2022; 316:123308.
  2. Jahanbakhshi A, Karami-Boozhani S, Yousefi M, Ooi JB. Performance of bioethanol and diesel fuel by thermodynamic simulation of the miller cycle in the diesel engine. Results in Engineering 2021; 12:100279.
  3. Lee CC, Tran M-V, Tan BT, Scribano G, Chong CT, Ooi JB. Chemical effect of ethanol on the aromatics formation in methane-ethanol coflow diffusion flame at pressures from 1 to 6 bar: A numerical study. Energy 2021; 234:121215.
  4. Chow MR, Ooi JB, Chee KM, Pun CH, Tran M-V, Kong Leong JC, Lim S. Effects of ethanol on the evaporation and burning characteristics of palm-oil based biodiesel droplet. Journal of the Energy Institute 2021; 98:35-43.
  5. Lee CC, Tran M-V, Scribano G, Chong CT, Ooi JB, Cong HT. Numerical Study of NOx and Soot Formations in Hydrocarbon Diffusion Flames. Energy & Fuels 2019; 33(12):12839-12851.
  6. Ooi JB, Yap J-H, Tran M-V, Leong JCK. Experimental Investigation on the Droplet Burning Behavior of Diesel–Palm Biodiesel Blends. Energy & Fuels 2019; 33(11):11804-11811.

Selected Publications

  1. Ooi JB, Ismail HM, Tan BT, Wang X. Effects of graphite oxide and single-walled carbon nanotubes as diesel additives on the performance, combustion, and emission characteristics of a light-duty diesel engine. Energy 2018; 161:70-80.
  2. Ooi JB, Rajanren JR, Ismail HM, Swamy V, Wang X. Improving combustion characteristics of diesel and biodiesel droplets by graphite oxide addition for diesel engine applications. International Journal of Energy Research 2017; 41(14):2258-2267.
  3. Ooi JB, Ismail HM, Swamy V, Wang X, Swain AK, Rajanren JR. Graphite oxide nanoparticle as a diesel fuel additive for cleaner emissions and lower fuel consumption. Energy & Fuels 2016; 30(2):1341-1353.
  4. Ooi JB, Wang X, Lim YP, Tan CS, Ho JH, Wong KC. Parametric Optimization of the Output Shaft of a Portal Axle using Finite Element Analysis. 2013; 59(10):7.
  5. Ooi JB, Wang X, Tan C, Ho J-H, Lim YP. Modal and stress analysis of gear train design in portal axle using finite element modeling and simulation. Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology 2012; 26(2):575-589.
  6. Qua H, Khaw C, Tan C, Wang X, Ooi JB. Fast identification of O2 corrosion in economiser tubes. Engineering Failure Analysis 2011; 18(8):2201-2210.
  • Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia
  • Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Malaysia
  • University of Technology Sydney, Australia
  • The University of Nottingham, Malaysia

Masters and PhD positions are available on the following topics:

1. Optimization of the performance and exhaust emissions of a diesel engine fuelled with ternary biodiesel blends

2. Enhanced micro-explosion, atomization, and combustion behaviours of a biodiesel droplet added with carbon-based nanoparticles

3. Soot modelling development in diesel engine combustion.

Interested candidates may send their CV to Dr Ooi Jong Boon (Ooi.jongboon@monash.edu)

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