Studies on the performance and emission characteristics of a dual fuel VCR engine using producer gas as secondary fuel: An optimization approach using response surface methodology

Abstract

The main challenge in implementing biomass gasification technology lies in retrofitting the existing diesel engines with a biomass power generation unit, because the operating parameters varies based on the engine design. Hence an intricate study is crucial by varying the operating conditions of a dual fuel engine over the performance and emissions parameters. In this view, the response surface methodology was used to simulate the performance and emission characteristics of a dual fuel engine by varying the load and compression ratios and utilizing producer gas as secondary fuel. From both the experimental and optimization observations, it is found that the Rubber shell operated dual fuel engine shows the highest brake thermal efficiency (BTE) and diesel replacement (DR) compared to the other selected feedstock. It is found that the engine load of 1.87 kW, and a compression ratio of 17 are found to be the optimal operating parameters. The optimum responses corresponding to these operating conditions are found as 19.44%, 48%, 758.94 ppm, 2.08% by vol., 2.77% by vol., and 184.48 ppm for brake thermal efficiency (BTE), diesel replacement (DR), HC, CO, CO2, and NOx emissions respectively with overall desirability of 0.96.