Modeling and optimization of a CI engine running on producer gas fortified with oxyhydrogen

Biomass gasification is a key enabler in achieving sustainable development goals. The producer gas derived through the thermochemical processing of waste biomass is an intriguing alternative fuel for compression ignition engines. However, because of their poor energy density, gas-powered engines suffer from power derating. The current work is an attempt to address this issue by utilizing a low-cost device, namely an oxyhydrogen generator. Port injection of oxyhydrogen-enhanced producer gas is used, with a benign quantity of diesel used as pilot fuel. The influence of engine load, gaseous fuel flow rate, and injection advance on the combustion parameters of a diesel engine are investigated and optimized. Box-Behnken design was employed to restrict the number of experiments. Analysis of variance was used to generate new correlations for each parameter. Desirability-based optimization yielded the ideal parameters for engine operation as 29 degrees crank angle advance, 4.88 bar brake mean effective pressure, and 0.825 litres per minute oxyhydrogen flow rate. At optimal operating settings, the engine's performance and combustion output were 21.34% brake thermal efficiency, 3.78 MJ/kWh brake specific energy consumption, 65.76% diesel savings, 84.37 ppm carbon monoxide, 101.7 ppm hydrocarbon and 303 ppm oxides of nitrogen (NOx). The usage of oxyhydrogen improved combustion, resulting in fewer total engine emissions. Except for NOx, the use of oxyhydrogen improved combustion and reduced engine emissions. The application of the response surface approach aided in the identification of optimal operating parameters, the formation of correlations, and optimization.

Automated summary

This study utilizes an oxyhydrogen generator to improve the energy density of the producer gas derived from waste biomass, which is used as a fuel for gas-powered engines along with a small amount of diesel as pilot fuel. The combustion parameters of a diesel engine, including engine load, gaseous fuel flow rate, and injection advance, are investigated and optimized. The optimal operating parameters are determined as 29 degrees crank angle advance, 4.88 bar brake mean effective pressure, and 0.825 litres per minute oxyhydrogen flow rate, resulting in improved combustion and reduced engine emissions except for NOx.