Performance and exhaust emissions analysis of a diesel engine running on diesel /diethyl ether/biogas as a green fuel

ABSTRACT

The aim of the current investigation is to evaluate the performance and exhaust characteristics of a dual fuel engine for different diethyl ether/biogas/diesel fuel blends as a novel fuel. The various fractions of diethyl ether (10, 15, 20%) and biogas flow rate (10, 20, 30 LPM) in conventional diesel at different engine loads (20, 60, and 100%) were examined. The studied variables analyzed by utilizing response surface technique to achieve the best model. In present study, all of the suggested multivariate models were statistically significant, indicating the high accuracy of the models. Besides, the desirability approach was employed to define the values of the independent parameters achieving a maximum performance and minimal engine-out emissions. The modeling results showed that the best engine operation condition result occurs at 83% engine load, 10% DEE ratio, and 30 LPM flow rate of Biogas. The corresponding response parameter at the suggested point was predicted to be BTE of 22%, UHC emissions of 56 ppm, CO emissions of 0.09%, NO_X emissions of 102 ppm, and emitted smoke of 24%. A high desirability of 0.74 for derived models indicated that response surface method could accurately be used to optimize/model of the diesel engine running on a ternary blend.

KEYWORDS:

• Diethyl ether
• biogas
• ternary blend
• diesel engine characteristics
• response surface method

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The research work reported here is a part of DST-SERB sponsored project bearing grant number SB/ETA/FTP-306/2013. The financial assistance provided is greatly acknowledged.