ABSTRACT
In the scenario of energy crisis and fall in environmental aspects, water diesel emulsified fuel (WDEF) acts as a promising alternative fuel. For improving the stability of emulsified fuel, optimization of the emulsification process should be performed. In this study, experimental and statistical analysis was executed to optimize the stability aspects of WDEF through response surface methodology (RSM) approach. Further, experimental investigations were carried out for performance, emission, and combustion features of the diesel engine by using optimized WDEF. The design of experiments was carried out by considering water concentration, surfactant concentration, and duration of ultrasonication as input parameters of the emulsification process. Their effects on the separation of water layer were inspected experimentally. The quadratic model was developed and confirmed for analysis of variance (ANOVA). Interactive effects of input parameters were plotted by using the regression model. The estimated optimum values of water concentration, surfactant concentration, and duration of ultrasonication were found to be 4.486% vol., 1.237% vol., and 30.0 min, respectively. The performance and combustion features showed the marginal difference between neat diesel and the emulsified fuel. The emissions of NOX, smoke, CO, and HC were reduced tremendously as compared to neat diesel.
Abbreviations
ANN | = | Artificial neural network |
ANOVA | = | Analysis of variance |
BSFC | = | Brake specific fuel consumption |
BTE | = | Brake thermal efficiency |
CCD | = | Central composite design |
CO | = | Carbon monoxide |
C.R | = | Compression ratio |
D94W5S1 | = | 94% diesel + 5% water + 1% SPAN-80 |
DA | = | Desirability approach |
DOE | = | Design of experiments |
Dof | = | Degree of freedom |
DU | = | Duration of ultrasonication |
ES | = | Emulsion stability |
HC | = | Hydrocarbon |
HLB | = | Hydrophilic-lipophilic balance |
HRR | = | Heat release rate |
ICP | = | In-cylinder pressure |
NOX | = | Nitrogen oxide |
PM | = | Particulate matter |
PSO | = | Particle swarm optimization |
RPM | = | Revolution per minute |
RSM | = | Response surface methodology |
SC | = | Surfactant concentration |
WC | = | Water concentration |
WDEF | = | Water-diesel emulsified fuel |
Acknowledgments
The authors are thankful to the Department of Chemistry, Manipal University Jaipur for providing excellent lab facilities.
Declarations of interest
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Deepti Khatri
Deepti Khatri is working as a Research Scholar in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Manipal University Jaipur. She is doing research in the area of IC engine, emissions reduction, and water-diesel emulsified fuel.
Rahul Goyal
Rahul Goyal is working as a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Manipal University Jaipur. He has more than 18 years of teaching and research experience. He is doing research in the area of IC engine, pollution Control, and alternative fuels.
Akshat Jain
Akshat Jain B.Tech student, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Manipal University Jaipur, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.
Alan T. Johnson
Alan T. Johnson B.Tech student, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Manipal University Jaipur, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.