Study on performance-emission trade-off and multi-objective optimization of diesel-ethanol-palm biodiesel in a single cylinder CI engine: a Taguchi-fuzzy approach

Abstract

ABSTRACT World energy insecurity and other issues like rapid industrialization, stringent emissions, and global warming have inspired researchers to explore the benefits of alternative fuel research for the replacement of fossil fuel. Promulgation of different advantages in non-fossil fuel helps the researcher to step forward for alternative fuel research. In the present experiment, investigation of performance and emission characteristics of different diesel, ethanol, and palm oil biodiesel blend have been studied in a signal cylinder, four-stroke direct injection CI (compression ignition) engine. The experimental results indicate almost the similar performance and emission characteristics for all test fuels. Almost equal nitrogen oxides (NOx) emission and lower brake specific energy consumption (BSEC) with some penalty of increased unburnt hydrocarbon (UHC) emission have been observed for all blends. Finally, a fuzzy-based Taguchi method has been chosen for the selection of appropriate engine operating range (load) and fuel blend for optimum performance and emission characteristics. Based on the highest MPCI value (0.676), 20% load and B4 (D75B20E5) have been found as the optimum operating range and fuel blend, respectively, for the maximum reduction of BSEC, NOx, and UHC emissions compared to other blends.