Multiple Response Optimizations on Performance Characteristics and Emissions of CRDI Diesel Engine Fuelled with Neem Biodiesel Blends

Abstract

Biodiesel is a clean and alternative fuel for replacing traditional petroleum diesel. It has high lubricating property and burns cleaner when compared to diesel in existing unmodified diesel engines. Biodiesel consists of fatty acid esters obtained by transesterification of vegetable oil. The seeds of Neem contain 30-40% of oil and biodiesel is obtained from Neem oil through transesterification process. Tests are conducted for Neem biodiesel blends (NB5, NB10, NB15 and NB20) by varying engine performance parameters such as Injection time, Injection pressure and load on unmodified computerized CRDI diesel engine. Taguchi is used for Design of experiments (DoE) to minimize number of experiments. An L16 orthogonal array with four columns (Blend, IT, IP and Load) and 16 rows is considered to conduct experiments. Grey relation analysis is used to find the multiple response optimizations and S/N ratios are used to find the significance of independent variables on output responses. S/N ratio mean plot signifies that blend percentage of NB15, IP 480 bar, IT 23? bTDC and load of 9kg (A3B2C3D3) is the optimum combination corresponding to low emissions and maximum performance of CRDI engine.