RSM approach for optimising engine operating parameters of VCR engine fuelled with Xanthium strumarium L. seed oil biodiesel blends

Abstract

With the depletion of fossil fuels, the demands for fuel prices led by OPEC are increasing so possible fuel power for the current-day diesel engine is the need of today. Biodiesel is a significant alternative fuel; however, engine parameters need to be optimised on the basis of best performance and least exhaust discharges. In this work, experimentation was carried out fuelling blends of Xanthium strumarium L. seed oil biodiesel with diesel in volumetric proportions of 10%, 20% and 30% on a VCR diesel engine under engine fluctuations of engine’s volumetric ratio, fuel injection pressure and the start of fuel injection timing. Response surface methodology was employed and modelled output responses of the engine were quadratic and observed to be statistically fit with good confidence levels. Based on the RSM optimiser, the predictions made were marked as IT 24.57580bTDC, IP-180 bar, CR-16.5657 and blend levels 29.1919%v/v with a composite desirability score of 0.6824.