Study of performance and emissions of a stationary DI variable compression ratio CI engine fueled with n-butanol/diesel blends using Taguchi technique: analytical and experimental analysis

ABSTRACT

In the current work, n-butanol-diesel blends were tested on a small size agriculture-based compression ignition (CI) engine. Taguchi analysis was carried out to identify the optimum blending ratio and engine operating parameters. Experiments were conducted with n-butanol/diesel blends (10–20% by volume) by varying compression ratio (CR) (17.5–19.5), injection timing (21–25 CA btdc) and injection pressure (200–220 bar). The 20% n-butanol/diesel blend (BU20) showed better results of performance and emissions at increased CR under similar operating conditions. When engine was fueled with BU20, reduction in Smoke, NO_x (Nitrogen-oxides) and CO (Carbon-monoxide) were observed to be 49.03%, 13.68% and 5.88%, respectively, in comparison to diesel. However, HC (Hydrocarbons) were found to be higher by 11.76% for BU20 as compared to diesel.

KEYWORDS:

• Emission
• n-butanol-diesel blend
• CI engine
• Taguchi
• ANOVA

Nomenclature

ANOVA	=	Analysis of variance
BSFC	=	Brake specific fuel consumption
BTE	=	Brake thermal efficiency
CR	=	Compression ratio
CA btdc	=	Crank angle before top dead center
CO	=	Carbon monoxide
PM	=	Particulate matter
CI	=	Compression ignition
CN	=	Cetane number
DI	=	Direct injection
HSU	=	Hartridge Smoke Units
HC	=	Hydrocarbon
IT	=	Injection timing
IC	=	Internal combustion
NOx	=	Nitrogen oxides
TC	=	turbocharged
IP	=	Injection pressure

Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to SKIT, Jaipur and MNIT Jaipur for providing facilities for this research work. Special thanks to Dr Narendra Kumar Banthiya and Late Dr Alok Mathur for motivation in this work.

Notes

1. Plots are not on the scale.

2. The conversion rate is $1 = INR69.68 and the this is ex-factory cost.

3. Fuel cost calculated on May 28, 2019.