Title: Optimisation of injection timing and operating parameters on Jatropha biodiesel engine using RSM

Authors: T. Ganapathy; R.P. Gakkhar; K. Murugesan

Addresses: St. Anne's College of Engineering and Technology, Anguchettypalayam, Panruti (Tk), Cuddalore (Dt) 607110 TN, India. ' Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee - 247667, Uttarakhand, India. ' Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee - 247667, Uttarakhand, India

Abstract: Injection timing, along with engine operating parameters, significantly affects the performance and emissions of Jatropha biodiesel engine. Optimal setting of these parameters is indispensable for efficient operation of diesel engine when fuelled with Jatropha biodiesel. The present work is to optimise these parameters using response surface methodology (RSM) for Jatropha biodiesel operation in diesel engine. For this investigation, the experiments were carried out for different injection timing, load torque and speed levels according to full factorial design consisting of (33) with 27 runs. Brake specific fuel consumption, brake thermal efficiency, peak cylinder pressure, CO, HC, NO emissions and smoke density were studied. Response surface models have been developed with obtained experimental data using RSM. After obtaining the models, the injection timing, load torque and engine speed levels were optimised using multi-objective optimisation technique and genetic algorithm. The optimal settings of fuel injection timing, load torque and speed for Jatropha biodiesel engine are 342.6 CAD, 11.4 Nm and 1,801 rpm respectively and optimal values of BSFC, BTE, Pmax, smoke density, CO, HC and NO emissions are, 0.2875 kg/kWh, 30.96 %, 65.79 bar, 4.26 vol. %, 0.0076 vol. %, 5.27 ppm and 321.69 ppm respectively.

Keywords: renewable energy technology; parameter optimisation; Jatropha biodiesel engines; response surface methodology; RSM; injection timing; engine performance; engine emissions; full factorial design; fuel consumption; brake thermal efficiency; peak cylinder pressure; smoke density; multi-objective optimisation; genetic algorithms.

DOI: 10.1504/IJRET.2012.047486

International Journal of Renewable Energy Technology, 2012 Vol.3 No.3, pp.254 - 275

Accepted: 15 Oct 2011
Published online: 29 Oct 2014 *

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