Optimization in the performance and emission parameters of a DI diesel engine fuelled with pentanol added Calophyllum inophyllum/diesel blends using response surface methodology.

The primary objective of this work was to enhance the performance and emission of the computerized variable compression ratio (VCR) diesel engine fuelled with pentanol/Calophyllum inophyllum (CI)/diesel fuel blends. Based on the prerequisite for the current research, response surface methodology (RSM), an optimization technique, was adopted for the process parameters compression ratio (CR), load and fuel blends, and the optimized responses like brake thermal efficiency (BTE), brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), hydrocarbon (HC), and smoke were revealed with the help of Derringer's desirability approach. From the results, it is notified that pentanol-fuelled engine showed better performance and emissions at 17.5 CR, P20C20 (pentanol 20%+Calophyllum inophyllum 20%+diesel 60%) blend and 2.5 bmep (brake mean effective pressure) load conditions. The observed mathematical models and validation experiments show that the VCR diesel engine exhibits maximum efficiency and minimum emissions at the optimized input parameters.

Assessment of n-pentanol/Calophyllum inophyllum/diesel blends on the performance, emission, and combustion characteristics of a constant-speed variable compression ratio direct injection diesel engine.

Alcohol is used as an additive for a long time with the petroleum-based fuels. In this study, the higher alcohol, n-pentanol, was used as an additive to Calophyllum inophyllum (CI) biodiesel/diesel blends at 10, 15, and 20% by volume. In all blends, the ratio of CI was maintained at 20% by volume. The engine characteristics of the pentanol fuel blends were compared with the diesel and CI20 (Calophyllum inophyllum 20% and diesel 80%) biodiesel blend. The nitrogen oxide (NO) emission of the pentanol fuel blends showed an increased value than CI20 and neat diesel fuel. The carbon dioxide (CO2) also increased with increase in pentanol addition with the fuel blends than CI20 fuel blend and diesel. The carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbon (HC) emissions were decreased with increase in pentanol proportion in the blend than the CI20 fuel and diesel. The smoke emission was reduced and the combustion characteristics of the engine were also improved by using pentanol blended fuels. From this investigation, it is suggested that 20% pentanol addition with the biodiesel/diesel fuel is suitable for improved performance and combustion characteristics of a diesel engine without any engine modifications, whereas CO2 and NO emissions increased with addition of pentanol due to effective combustion.