Performance and Combustion Analysis of Diesel Engine Fueled with Jatropha Biodiesel—Diesel Blends Using Taguchi’s Approach

Abstract

The aim of this work is to analyze performance and combustion of the various blends of diesel fuels and jatropha biodiesel. Experiments have been carried out using a single-cylinder, four-stroke, variable compression ratio CI engine fueled with jatropha biodiesel and its blends with diesel fuel. The test has been conducted using the fuel blends of 0%, 50% and 100% by volume biodiesel with diesel fuel. The percent biodiesel (0%, 50% and 100%), compression ratio (16, 17, 18), injection pressure (200, 180, 160 bar) and load (2, 7, 12 kg) are considered as input parameters. The responses for the experiments are specific fuel consumption (SFC), brake thermal efficiency (BTHE) and peak pressure. Taguchi approach is used to reduce the number of experiments. The optimum sets of the parameters are selected on signal-to-noise ratio basis. Optimum set for BTHE is 16 compression ratio, 0% biodiesel, 200 bar injection pressure and 12 kg engine load. The predicted value of BTHE (43.17) is closer to the experimented value (41.32 %) of BTHE at these levels. Optimum set for SFC is 16 compression ratio, 0% biodiesel, 200 bar injection pressure and 12 kg engine load. The predicted value of SFC (0.33 kg/kWh) is closer to the experimented value (0.37 kg/kWh) of SFC at these levels. Optimum set for peak pressure is 18 compression ratio, 0% biodiesel, 200 bar injection pressure and 12 kg engine load. The predicted value of peak pressure (82.83 bar) is closer to the experimented value (81.25 bar) of peak pressure at these levels.