CI Engine Performance Optimization Operated on Jatropha Methyl Ester using Taguchi and Multiple Regression Analysis for various loads

Abstract

Development of any country depends upon the availability of transport facility. Oil is the main source of energy which is now consumed up to 30% for transport facility in the world. The fossils fuel stocks all over the world are reduced due to industrial growth, innovation in transport vehicles and expanding urbanization. The application of biodiesel has shown a positive impact in minimising these issues. Jatropha, locally known as ratanjyot, is most considerable feed stock in India. Biodiesel (Jatropha methyl ester) of it as an environmentally and eco-friendly second generation fuel has the potential to provide comparable CI engine performance and enhance the lubrication. In this paper, the work is carried out on a single cylinder variable compression ratio CI engine fuelled with various blends of Jatropha methyl ester with diesel to study vibration, performance and emission characteristics of engine and its optimization using taguchi method as well as multiple regression analysis. The experiments are conducted on CI engine for various operating parameters with different levels viz, compression ratio, fuel injection pressure, fuel fraction, and injection timing. The load for engine has been incremented with the step 33.33% of full load from zero to full load. This study aims to find the optimal level of operating parameters and develop regression model for the output variables viz, acceleration of engine head in linear and lateral directions, specific fuel consumption, brake thermal efficiency, and oxides of nitrogen as function of operating parameters. Taguchi’s L 16 orthogonal array is applied for reducing the number of runs and time for experiment.In this,vibration characteristics of a CI engine fuelled with biodiesels and their blends are investigated at different loads, compression ratios, injection pressures and injection timing.