Engine Performance Research Articles

A Comprehensive Approach to Biodiesel Blend Selection Using GRA-TOPSIS: A Case Study of Waste Cooking Oils in Egypt

The transition to sustainable energy sources is critical for addressing global environmental challenges. In 2017, Egypt produced about 500,000 tons of waste cooking oil from various sources including food industries, restaurants and hotels. Sadly, 90% of households choose to dispose of their used cooking oil by pouring it down the drain or into their village’s sewers instead of using proper disposal methods. The process involves converting waste cooking oil (WCO) into biodiesel.This study introduces a multi-criteria decision-making approach to identify the optimal biodiesel blend from waste cooking oils in Egypt. By leveraging the grey relational analysis (GRA) combined with the technique for order preference by similarity to the ideal solution (TOPSIS), we evaluate eight biodiesel blends (diesel, B5, B10, B20, B30, B50, B75, B100) against various performance metrics, including carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, particulate matter, engine power, fuel consumption, engine noise, and exhaust gas temperature. The experimental analysis used a single-cylinder, constant-speed, direct-injection eight cylinder diesel engine under varying load conditions. Our methodology involved feature engineering and model building to enhance predictive accuracy. The results demonstrated significant improvements in monitoring accuracy, with diesel, B5, and B20 emerging as the top-performing blends. Notably, the B5 blend showed the best overall performance, balancing efficiency and emissions. This study highlights the potential of integrating advanced AI-driven decision-making frameworks into biodiesel blend selection, promoting cleaner energy solutions and optimizing engine performance. Our findings underscore the substantial benefits of waste cooking oils for biodiesel production, contributing to environmental sustainability and energy efficiency.

Optimizing Spark-Ignition Engine Performance with Ternary Blend Fuels and Hybrid Nanolubricants: A Response Surface Methodology Study

Optimizing Spark-Ignition Engine Performance with Ternary Blend Fuels and Hybrid Nanolubricants: A Response Surface Methodology Study

Effects of Different Throttle Opening and Air Intake Lengths on the Volumetric Efficiency of SI Engine Using 1D Simulation Method

Engine performance is influenced by volumetric efficiency, an engine’s ability to put air into its cylinders. It is known for its intake length being tuned based on engine speed due to the air pressure wave behavior. However, the airflow into the intake system is controlled by the throttle opening, so there is a need to study the performance effect of intake length that is tuned based on it. Thus, this current study focuses on the impact of different throttle opening and intake lengths in relation to engine speed on the volumetric efficiency of the Proton CamPro 1.6L SI engine. The simulation runs on different ranges of engine speeds from 1000 rpm to 7000 rpm and different intake lengths with different throttle opening angles. The critical finding of this study revealed that tuning intake length based on throttle opening showed an improvement of 1.3% for volumetric efficiency at the low rpm range. It is by tuning the intake length to 400 mm at a throttle opening of 70° for 1000 rpm and 450 mm intake length with a throttle opening of 50° at 2000 rpm. However, it showed that 90° or wide-open throttle provides the best volumetric efficiency for mid and high-range rpm for all intake lengths. The highest efficiency achieved is 101% at 4000 rpm with a 500 mm length intake and wide-open throttle. The findings from this study contribute to a good understanding of engine performance through intake length tuned based on throttle opening.

Compact Heat Exchangers With Curved Fins for Hydrogen Turbofan Intercooling

Abstract Hydrogen is being considered as a possible path toward carbon-neutral aviation. There are additional advantages besides its main benefit of CO2-free combustion. One application is to use it for aero engine heat management due to its cryogenic temperature and high heat capacity, including intercooling and exhaust heat recuperation. The focus of this paper is on the design of a compact heat exchanger (HEX) integrated into an intermediate compressor duct (ICD), which could decrease compression work and specific fuel consumption (SFC). This compact heat exchanger features curved fins to promote flow turning and decrease pressure losses compared to more conventional straight fin heat exchangers. Conceptual design and duct shape optimization has been carried out which produced integrated ICD heat exchanger designs with significantly lower air-side total pressure losses compared to their conventional straight fin counterparts, which could improve system level integration and engine performance. A direct outcome of this study is a pressure loss correlation, which can be used in future engine system-level trade studies.

The Green Energy Effect on an HCCI Engine from Used Cooking Oil-based Biodiesel from Malaysia

Emissions from internal combustion engines (ICEs) significantly impact the environment, leading continents worldwide to work towards reducing them. The industry is increasingly leaning towards electric powertrains. However, power plants still utilize ICEs as generators, contributing to global pollution. Consequently, ICE emissions are garnering international attention. Alternatives like the Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) engine and biodiesel fuels are being explored. HCCI engines have not been extensively tested with Used Cooking Oil (UCO) biodiesel. This study investigates the performance and emissions of HCCI engines using UCO-based biodiesel. This study tested an air-cooled, single-cylinder, 4-stroke diesel engine operating at 3600 rpm with a displacement of 0.219 liters. The HCCI mode was activated during preheating and run at 2700 rpm under varying biodiesel blend percentages and intake temperatures. In HCCI mode, brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC) increased, peaking at a 90°C intake temperature. Diesel fuel in-cylinder pressure reached a maximum of 81 bars at 90°C, decreasing to 79 bars at 70°C. The HCCI mode resulted in lower NOx, CO, and UHC emissions. Higher biodiesel blend ratios further reduced CO emissions. Raising the intake air temperature to 90°C lowered NOx emissions by 96.66%, from 150 ppm to 5 ppm. Using green energy sources as fuel in HCCI engines significantly reduced emissions in this study, suggesting their potential as a future fuel for advanced engines.

Numerical Investigation on the Influence of Continuous Rotating Backpropagation Pressure Wave on Turbine Performance

Abstract Researches have shown that the use of a continuous detonation afterburner can improve the propulsion performance of aero engine. However, backpropagation pressure waves (BPW) generated by the pressure gain of detonation will affect the internal flow and performance of turbine. This article simulates BPW through a custom function, and investigates the effects of BPW amplitude, rotation frequency, and propagation mode on turbine performance through three-dimensional simulation. The results show that as the pressure amplitude of the BPW increases, the pressure oscillation at each section of the turbine increases and a local subcritical flow state will appear, leading to the decrease of turbine flowrate and turbine power, as well as an intensification of instantaneous turbine power fluctuations. As the rotation frequency of the BPW increases, the pressure oscillation at each section of the turbine gradually decreases. The flowrate and power of the turbine do not change much, but turbine efficiency gradually decreases. Compared to the aligned mode, the turbine performs better under the influence of BPW in misaligned mode. Compared to the single-wave mode, the fluctuation of transient turbine power is lower under the influence of BPW in the multiwave mode excluding collision mode. Finally, the constraints of equal flowrate region and equal turbine power line on the peak-to-peak value of the BPW were analyzed when the joint operation of the turbine and compressor was not affected. The rotation frequency and mode of BPW will affect the flowrate region and power line.

Investigation of the effect of biofuel addition to jet fuel on engine performance and emissions in model jet engine

The use of biofuel reinforced fossil fuels is increasing day by day, thanks to such as reducing the carcinogenic effects of fossil fuels and reducing the global warming effect. The unmanned aerial vehicle breakthrough made in our country, especially in the defense industry, will ensure that the use of smaller unmanned aerial vehicles becomes more widespread in the future, allowing us to reach more effective and economical solutions. In this study, biofuel was obtained from safflower oil, and the effect of adding various amounts of biofuel to kerosene in a model jet engine on engine performance, and emissions was examined. The closest results to kerosene in fuel consumption, thrust force and the use of biofuel to reinforce fossil fuels is increasing day by day. This is due to its ability to reduce the carcinogenic effects of fossil fuels and also to reduce the global warming effect. In Türkiye, especially in the defense industry, there has been a significant breakthrough in unmanned aerial vehicle technology. This breakthrough will ensure that the use of smaller unmanned aerial vehicles becomes more widespread in the future, allowing us to reach more effective and economical solutions. In this study, biofuel was produced from safflower oil. Researchers examined the effect of adding different amounts of biofuel into kerosene fuel in a model jet engine. Engine performance and emissions were analyzed in the study. When the specific fuel consumption of kerosene fuel is compared to the average of all cycles of other fuels, it is 5.6 % more than B10 fuel, 12.4 % more than B20 fuel and 15 % more than B30 fuel. 8.3 % less thrust force was obtained. The highest turbine inlet temperature values were obtained with Kerosene fuel. Similar results were obtained in terms of emissions, but the best results were obtained with Kerosene fuel. When the averages of the entire experiment with biodiesel blend fuels were compared, it was stated that it constituted an acceptable alternative fuel.

Biodiesel production from eggshells derived bio-nano CaO catalyst–Microemulsion fuel blends for up-gradation of biodiesel

The utilization of bio-oil derived from biomass presents a promising alternative to fossil fuels, though it faces challenges when directly applied in diesel engines. Microemulsification has emerged as a viable strategy to enhance bio-oil properties, facilitating its use in hybrid fuels. This study explores the microemulsification of Jatropha bio-oil with ethanol, aided by a surfactant, to formulate a hybrid liquid fuel. Additionally, a bio-nano CaO heterogeneous catalyst synthesized from eggshells is employed to catalyse the production of Jatropha biodiesel from the microemulsified fuel using microwave irradiation. The catalyst is characterized through UV–Vis, XRD, and SEM analysis. The investigation reveals a significant reduction in CO, CO2, and NOX emissions with the utilization of microemulsion-based biodiesel blends. Various blends of conventional diesel, Jatropha biodiesel, and ethanol are prepared with different ethanol concentrations (5, 10, and 20 wt%). Engine performance parameters, including fuel consumption, NOX emission, and brake specific fuel consumption, are analyzed. Results indicate that the conventional diesel/Jatropha biodiesel/ethanol (10 wt%) blend exhibits superior performance compared to conventional diesel, Jatropha biodiesel, and other blends.The fuel consumption of the conventional diesel/Jatropha biodiesel/ethanol (10 wt%) blend is measured at 554.6 g/h, surpassing that of conventional diesel and other biodiesel blends. The presence of water (0.14 %) in the blend reduces the heating value, consequently increasing the energy requirement. CO and CO2 emissions for the conventional diesel/Jatropha biodiesel/ethanol (10 wt%) blend are notably lower compared to conventional C-18 hydrocarbons and various biodiesel blends. These findings accentuate the efficacy of the microemulsion process in enhancing fuel characteristics and reducing emissions. Further investigations could explore optimizing the emulsifying agents and their impact on engine performance and emission characteristics, contributing to the advancement of sustainable fuel technologies.

Study on the integration of hydrogen in a multi-cylinder low heat rejection diesel engine using a ternary blend

Among alternative fuels, hydrogen (H2) holds significant promise as both a fuel and an energy carrier. It is expected to become a key alternative fuel in the near future to meet stringent pollution standards. H2 is used in internal combustion (IC) engines, gas turbines, and the aerospace industry due to its non-toxic and odorless nature, high calorific value (CV), and wide temperature range of combustibility. Additionally, it is a long-term renewable energy source that produces fewer pollutants. This study explores the impact of different H2 ratios on combustion behavior, engine performance, and emission characteristics in a dual-fuel compression ignition (CI) diesel engine. The current research focuses on the effect of TB of ethanol, Jatropha methyl ester, and diesel with the induction of H2 with different flow rates in diesel engine in dual fuel mode (DFM). The tests were performed at different engine loads, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% at a constant engine speed of 2500 rpm. H2 is inducted at different flow rates like 2, 4, and 6 Litres per minute (lpm). Partially stabilized zirconia (PSZ) is used to coat the cylinder head, piston crown, and valves with a thickness of 0.5 mm. The combined effect of TB fuel and H2 in a CI engine improves combustion and engine performance. At full load condition, brake thermal efficiency (BTE) is improved by 11.5% for TB fuel with H2 at 6 lpm, and exhaust gas temperature (EGT) increased by 12.7%. The cylinder pressure (CP) and heat release rate (HRR) are increased by 7.5% and 10.6% at TB fuel with 6 lpm of H2 induction. The utilization of H2 as an alternative energy source has significant consequences for the future of green energy production.

Gas exchange optimization in aircraft engines using sustainable aviation fuel: A design of experiment and genetic algorithm approach

The poppet valves two-stroke (PV2S) aircraft engine fueled with sustainable aviation fuel is a promising option for general aviation and unmanned aerial vehicle propulsion due to its high power-to-weight ratio, uniform torque output, and flexible valve timings. However, its high-altitude gas exchange performance remains unexplored, presenting new opportunities for optimization through artificial intelligence (AI) technology. This study uses validated 1D + 3D models to evaluate the high-altitude gas exchange performance of PV2S aircraft engines. The valve timings of the PV2S engine exhibit considerable flexibility, thus the Latin hypercube design of experiments (DoE) methodology is employed to fit a response surface model. A genetic algorithm (GA) is applied to iteratively optimize valve timings for varying altitudes. The optimization process reveals that increasing the intake duration while decreasing the exhaust duration and valve overlap angles can significantly enhance high-altitude gas exchange performance. The optimal valve overlap angle emerged as 93 °CA at sea level and 82 °CA at 4000 m altitude. The effects of operating parameters, including engine speed, load, and exhaust back pressure, on the gas exchange process at varying altitudes are further investigated. The higher engine speed increases trapping efficiency but decreases the delivery ratio and charging efficiency at various altitudes. This effect is especially pronounced at elevated altitudes. The increase in exhaust back pressure will significantly reduce the delivery ratio and increase the trapping efficiency. This study demonstrates that integrating DoE with AI algorithms can enhance the high-altitude performance of aircraft engines, serving as a valuable reference for further optimization efforts.

Optimization of engine performance, emission and combustion parameters by using mixed nonedible oil biodiesel with nano-additives using hybrid techniques

The current study is focused on three nonedible oils resource such as Ceiba pentandra, Mahua longifolia, and Azadirachta indica mixed together in a specific proportion for biodiesel production. The produced biodiesel serves as an alternative fuel source for operating a variable compression ratio diesel engine, addressing escalating environmental pollution and stringent emission standards. A nano-additive comprising CaO–TiO2 is incorporated into biodiesel blends to enhance engine performance and mitigate emissions. The matrix undergoes experimentation and validation using Box-Behnken Design, Deep Belief Network, and a hybrid DBN-based Arithmetic Optimization Algorithm to optimize engine parameters for achieving higher brake thermal efficiency, lower emission rates, and reduced brake-specific fuel consumption. All the experiments are conducted by varying the engine load, speed, quantity of nano-additives and biodiesel blend. The final empirical model is more significant for DBN with a regression coefficient greater than 0.99. The converged optimized input parametric ranges are load 60 %, biodiesel 25 %, nano-additive 20 wt% and engine speed 1400 rpm. When comparing diesel fuel with CaO–TiO2 biodiesel, the proposed method resulted in significant improvements, including a 41 % reduction in brake-specific fuel consumption, a 32 % decrease in CO emissions, a 25 % decrease in NOX emissions, and a 16.9 % increase in brake thermal efficiency.

Optimization of performance and emission parameters of hydrogen enriched dual fuel diesel engine using response surface methodology

The global need for petroleum and its dwindling availability throughout the world demand an alternative fuel. Hydrogen-enriched algal biodiesel (ABD) is a potential option against conventional fuels due to its availability and positive effects on performance and emissions. Azolla pinnata algae is a high-yield fuel with reduced adverse impacts on the environment, requiring 2–5 days to double its biomass. This research work involves post-experimentation modeling to assess the performance and emissions of a CRDI diesel engine using a hydrogen-enriched blended fuel of Azolla pinnata ABD. Response surface methodology has been applied to optimize the load, fuel blend, and hydrogen gas substitution for performance and emissions characteristics. The ABD and hydrogen gas are varied between 0 and 40% in the pilot fuel for loads between 0 and 80%. The model indicates that the optimized load, blend, and hydrogen fuel substitution for this research are, respectively, 80%, 40%, and 40%. At the above-mentioned optimized parameters, the optimized values of BTE, CO, CO2, HC, and NOx are found to be 30.90%, 19.99 g/kWh, 288.89 g/kWh, 0.21 g/kWh, and 1.57 g/kWh, respectively. Adequacy precision greater than 4 and a percentage error between predicted and experimental values less than 5% indicate the model's ability to predict performance and emissions characteristics eventually.

An efficient data-driven approach for modeling and optimization of reactivity-controlled compression ignition engine fueled with polyoxymethylene dimethyl ethers and hydrogen

This paper presents an efficient data-driven approach for optimizing the utilization of PODEn and hydrogen in reactivity-controlled compression ignition (RCCI) engines. A novel high dimensional model representation (HDMR) technique is adopted to construct a highly accurate surrogate model for the RCCI engine based on the dataset generated by a detailed CFD model that has been calibrated against experimental data. The HDMR model is then coupled with Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm III (NSGA III), a multi-objective genetic algorithm, to search for the optimal operating conditions where the RCCI engine fueled by PODEn and H2 achieves the highest combustion performance. Results suggest that the constructed HDMR model is highly accurate, being able to predict the engine performance within milliseconds. The coupled HDMR-NSGA III approach successfully identifies the optimal engine operating condition, which significantly improves the combustion performance and reduces pollutant emissions compared with the base condition.

INVESTIGATION OF THE EFFECTS OF THE DIFFERENT BIODIESELS’ BLENDS ON ENGINE PERFORMANCE

Internal combustion (IC) compression ignition (CI) engines running on diesel, play a dominant role of today’s economies, particularly in the agriculture and transport sectors. However, because of diesel associated concerns greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions, coupled with depletion of its reserves together and fluctuations in prices, the biodiesel has gained popularity as a promising alternative fuel. Unfortunately, engines running on biodiesel are associated with decreased power output, poor fuel atomization and increased nitrogen oxides emissions. Biodiesels have been blended with diesel to improve on its properties, however, it has been a difficult to obtain the best blending level, since they are sourced from a variety of vegetable oils whose fuel parameters and interactions differ considerably, causing variation in their combustion processes. Thus, the research aimed to investigate the effects of biodiesels’ blends with diesel on engine performance parameters. Five biodiesels from waste vegetable oil, canola, sunflower, oleander, and coconut oil were characterized and blended with diesel at 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30% by volume. The blends were tested in a 3.5 kW CI engine at maximum speeds and loads. Experiments indicated the biodiesel blends lead to reduced lower heating value, increased density and kinematic viscosity compared to diesel. The blends resulted into increased fuel consumption and nitrogen oxides, while, reducing on brake thermal efficiency and carbon monoxide emissions.

Effects of using nanosecond repetitively pulsed discharge and turbulent jet ignition on internal combustion engine performance

Robust ignition of hard-to-ignite fuels is essential for future spark ignited internal combustion engines, particularly for introducing efficiency-enhancing diesel-like process parameters like air excess or high amounts of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR). On the one hand, novel plasma-based ignition systems like Nanosecond Repetitively Pulsed Discharge (NRPD) are promising in extending the ignition limits and the early flame development speed. On the other hand, Turbulent Jet Ignition is effective for shortening the combustion duration and decreasing the unburned hydrocarbon emissions.This article investigates experimentally the combination of NRPD ignition and TJI. The aim is to use a technology for robust inflammation (NRPD) in combination with a technology for fast combustion of the bulk charge (TJI). For this purpose, a turbocharged light-duty four-cylinder engine operated with natural gas is used. The engine can be fitted with a classical Open Chamber (OC) spark plug or with Pre-Chambers (PC). The PCs can be filled uniquely with fuel and air coming from the Main Chamber (MC) (“passive PC”), or additional fuel can be added to the PCs (“active PC”). The air-to-fuel ratio and EGR rate can be freely controlled. Five different combustion strategies are investigated with NRPD ignition and compared against an inductive discharge ignition system. The combustion strategies are passive PC with air and EGR dilution, active PC with air dilution, and Open Chamber (OC) with air and EGR dilution. HRR evaluations and a loss analyses are performed to interpret the results.Despite the faster inflammation present with NRPD ignition, similar peak efficiencies and emissions are reached in OC configuration using the inductive discharge and NRPD ignition systems, which are achieved by varying air-to-fuel ratios (AFR) and EGR rates. Above dilution levels for peak efficiency, the efficiency using NRPD ignition decreases at a slower pace and tolerates higher AFR and EGR rates, thanks to a more complete and shorter combustion.For the PC experiments using NRPD ignition, an efficiency increases and a reduction of emissions compared to inductive discharge ignition are present for the investigated AFR and EGR rates for both active and passive PC operations. The efficiency increase is present due to a stronger pre-chamber discharge and thanks to a faster end phase of combustion. Actively fueling the PC results in faster and more complete combustion that is overcompensated by the increased wall heat losses, reducing the overall efficiency. The results show that passive PC with NRPD ignition may be an ideal ignition concept that maximizes engine efficiency and minimizes emissions.

A numerical investigation on the effect of altering compression ratio, injection timing, and injection duration on the performance of a diesel engine fuelled with diesel-biodiesel-butanol blend

Abstract Using renewable fuels for diesel engines can reduce both air pollution and dependence on fossil fuels. A computer simulation was constructed to predict the performance, combustion characteristics, and NOx emission of a diesel engine fuelled with diesel-biodiesel-butanol blends. The simulation was validated by comparing the modeling results against experimental data and a good agreement between the results was found. The fuels used for the validation were diesel (B0), biodiesel (B100), diesel-biodiesel blend (B50), and two diesel-biodiesel-butanol blends with 45% diesel-45% biodiesel-10% butanol (Bu10), and 40% diesel-40% biodiesel-20% butanol (Bu20) by volume. Experimental results showed that the addition of butanol reduced NOx emissions but deteriorated the engine performance. The aim of the current work was the numerical optimization of the different parameters to enhance the engine performance while using butanol to decrease NOx emissions. The engine compression ratio (CR) varied from 14 to 24, in increments of 2. Fuel injection timing (IT) was retarded from 30° before top dead center (bTDC) to 5° bTDC in increments of 5o. Also, the fuel injection duration (IDur) was extended from 20° to 50° in increments of 10°. Results showed that the increase in CR improved engine performance for the two investigated fuels, Bu10 and Bu20. The maximum engine brake power (BP), thermal efficiency (BTE), and minimum brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC) of 1.46 kW, 32.3%, and 0.273 kg/kWh respectively, were obtained when the Bu10 fuel was injected at the optimum conditions of 24 CR, 15°bTDC IT, and 40° injection duration (IDur). Under these optimum conditions, the BP, BTE, and BSFC improved by 3% to 3.5% for Bu10 and Bu20 fuel blends compared to the base engine conditions of CR of 22, 30° IDur, and 10° bTDC IT. The heat release rate during the premixed phase increased when the IT was advanced, while the mixing-controlled combustion phase was enhanced when the IT was retarded. NOx emissions increased with increasing the CR, while both the increase in IDur at constant IT and the retard of IT decreased engine NOx emissions. At the optimum conditions, the NOx emissions for Bu10 and Bu20 were further decreased by 2.2% and 0.9% respectively compared to the experimental results at base engine conditions. Retarding the injection timing from 15° bTDC to 5° bTDC at a CR of 24 and IDur of 40° caused the NOx emissions for Bu10 and Bu20 to decrease by 16%. When the injection duration was increased from 20° to 50° at a CR of 24 and an IT of 15°bTDC, the NOx emissions for Bu10 and Bu20 decreased by 12.3% and 11.8% respectively. The addition of butanol to the diesel-biodiesel blend at optimum conditions showed results comparable to pure diesel, with a decrease in NOx emissions.

Sustainable Continuous Synthesis of Methyl Levulinate in a Rotating Catalytic-Bed Recycle Reactor: Reaction Kinetics, Process Scale-Up, Engine Performance, and Exhaust Emission

Sustainable Continuous Synthesis of Methyl Levulinate in a Rotating Catalytic-Bed Recycle Reactor: Reaction Kinetics, Process Scale-Up, Engine Performance, and Exhaust Emission

Intensification of valorization of cooked rice water through energy-efficient synthesis of drop-in biofuel (butyl levulinate): engine performance, emission profile, and environmental impact assessments.

For the first time, an energy-efficient and eco-friendly technology for the conversion of abundantly available kitchen waste, specifically waste cooked rice water (WCRW) to drop-in- biofuels, namely, butyl levulinate (BL), has been explored. The synthesis of BL was accomplished employing butyl alcohol (BA) and WCRW in an energy-efficient UV (5W each UVA and UVB)-near-infrared (100W) irradiation assisted spinning (120rpm) batch reactor (UVNIRSR) in the presence of TiO2-Amberlyst 15 (TA15) photo-acidic catalyst system (PACS). The optimal 95.81% yield of BL (YBL) could be achieved at 10 wt% catalyst concentration, 60°C reaction temperature, 80min time, and 1:10 WCRW: BA concentration as per Taguchi statistical design. Moreover, additional combination of different PACS such as TiO2-Amberlyst 16, TiO2-Amberlyst 36, and TiO2-Amberlite IRC120 H rendered 86.72% YBL, 90.04% YBL, and 93.47% YBL, respectively, proving superior efficacy compared to individual activity of the acidic catalysts and photocatalysts. The heterogeneous reaction kinetics study for TA15 PACS suggested Langmuir-Hinshelwood model to be the best fitted model. A significant 63.33% energy could be saved by UVNIRSR as compared to conventional heated reactor at the optimized experimental condition using PACS TA15. An overall alleviation in environmental pollution with 59.259% reduction in GWP, 15.254% decline in terrestrial ecotoxicity, 18.238% diminution in marine ecotoxicity, 17.25% decrease in ozone formation affecting human health, 5.865% reduction in human non-carcinogenic toxicity, 18.65% diminution in ozone formation affecting terrestrial ecosystem, 55.17% significant decrease in terrestrial acidification, and 25.619% mitigation in fresh water ecotoxicity could be observed. Furthermore, BL-biodiesel-diesel blends (3% BL, 7% biodiesel, and 90% diesel) exhibited significant reduction (25.45% and 36%, respectively, for CO and HC) in harmful engine exhaust emissions demonstrating environmental sustainability of the overall process.

Interpretable and efficient RUL prediction of turbofan engines using EM-enhanced Bi-LSTM with TCN and attention mechanism

Remaining useful life (RUL) prediction for turbofan engines is important in prognostics and health management (PHM) for the maintenance and operation of critical equipment. With continuous innovations in deep learning techniques, the complexity of models continues to increase, but the interpretability and comprehensibility of the prediction results become particularly important in industrial applications. Therefore, in this study, an improved bidirectional long and short-term memory network (Bi-LSTM) based interpretable hybrid deep learning model for RUL prediction of turbofan engines is proposed, which ingeniously integrates time series convolutional networks (TCNs), expectation maximization (EM), Bi-LSTMs, and attention mechanisms. By capturing time-series features at different levels, the model adapts to the complex dynamics of turbofan engine performance evolution in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Experimental validation on the C-MAPSS dataset demonstrated that the model significantly outperforms other methods in terms of RUL prediction performance, especially in improving prediction accuracy and coping with the degradation of complex system dynamics. The largest contribution of key metrics to the model is validated through consistent results from multiple interpretable tools, providing comprehensive and consistent support for understanding and trusting prediction results in industrial applications. This study further enhances the robustness of the model and the reliability of the interpretable results by delving into the dynamic relationships between the properties of the different life stages, which not only reveal the importance of these characteristics in engine life prediction but also provide more comprehensive information about the engine performance variations by observing the dynamic relationships.

The impact of scavenging air state on the combustion and emission performance of marine two-stroke dual-fuel engine

The scavenging process significantly affects the combustion and emission performance of marine low-speed two-stroke dual-fuel engines. Optimizing scavenging air pressure and temperature can enhance the engine's combustion efficiency and emission control performance, thereby achieving more environmentally friendly and efficient operation of dual-fuel engines. This study focuses on marine low-speed two-stroke dual-fuel engines, analyzing the effects of scavenging air pressure (3.0 bar, 3.25 bar, 3.5 bar, and 3.75 bar) and scavenging air temperature (293 K, 303 K, and 313 K) on engine performance and emission products. The results indicate that scavenging air pressure has a greater impact on engine performance than scavenging air temperature. An increase in scavenging air pressure leads to higher thermal efficiency and power. As the scavenging air pressure increases from 3 to 3.75 bar, the indicated thermal efficiency (ITE) increases from 44.02 to 53.26%, and indicated mean effective pressure (IMEP) increases by approximately 0.35 MPa. Increased scavenging air pressure improves nitrogen oxide (NOx) and hydrocarbons (HC) emissions. For every 0.25 bar increase in scavenging air pressure, NOx emissions decrease by 3.53%, HC emissions decrease by 33.35%, while carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions increase by 0.71%. An increase in scavenging air temperature leads to lower ITE and IMEP. As the air temperature changes from 293 to 313 K, the ITE decreases by approximately 1%, and IMEP decreases by about 0.04 MPa. Increased scavenging air temperature improves CO2 emissions. For every 10 K increase in the air temperature, the CO2 emissions decrease by 0.02%, while NOx emissions increase by 4.84%, HC emissions increase by 34.39%. Therefore, controlling scavenging air pressure is more important than scavenging air temperature in the operational management of marine two-stroke engines. Higher power and lower NOx and HC emissions can be achieved by increasing the scavenging air pressure.