Optimization of injection timing and anti-oxidants for multiple responses of CI engine fuelled with algae biodiesel blend

Effect of addition of anti-oxidants into the algae biodiesel blend with modification of its fuel injection timing was investigated for the emission control of a compression ignition (CI) engine. It was planned to control the NOx emission of the engine fuelled with algae biodiesel blend by equally concentrating on the smoke control and brake thermal efficiency (BTE). Hence NOx, smoke and BTE were the responses for the present investigation. Experiment test matrix were designed with two different anti-oxidants (Pyrogallol (PY) and Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)) and fuel injection timing as the factors by choosing three levels in each factor. A single cylinder stationary engine was tested with the designed test matrix as per the Taguchi Orthogonal array. Experiments results were analysed by calculating multi response signal to noise (MRSN) ratio for the loss functions of the selected responses and also by analysing the variance of obtained MRSN ratio. From the results it was observed that when fuelled with algae biodiesel blend, BHT plays a most significant role followed by injection timing for the reduction of engine NOx emission with equal importance to the smoke control and BTE. It was also observed that the influence of pyrogallol was less when compared with other factors for the NOx control of the CI engine fuelled with algae biodiesel blend.

Automated summary

The study investigated the effect of adding antioxidants to algae biodiesel blend on emission control of a compression ignition engine. Results showed that BHT played a significant role in reducing engine NOx emissions when fueled with algae biodiesel blend, followed by injection timing.