Experimental study of YSZ and TiO2 Thermal Barrier Coated Piston effect on Engine Performance and Emission Characteristics

Most of the energy was being lost through the cooling system and exhaust gas, to utilize that energy and convert it to a useful job thermal barrier coatings is widely used. Tests were conducted on a four stroke, single cylinder diesel engine for which its piston crown was coated with a thickness of 100/100 microns YSZ/TiO2 over 100 microns NiCr bond coat with plasma spray coating technology and then the results were compared with the uncoated piston. Thermal barrier coating was used for better performance, emission and combustion characteristics. The tests were performed at different load conditions using both the pistons and compared the results. At maximum load there is a rise in BTE and reduction in BSFC, CO, HC emissions compared to uncoated piston at maximum load. With the use of coated piston NOx emissions were increased and the smoke opacity is decreased compared to the uncoated piston. Finally, the results convey that thermal barrier coated piston is more efficient than uncoated piston.