OPTIMIZATION OF DIESEL ENGINE PARAMETERS TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE FOR SAL SEED BIO-DIESEL BLEND

Abstract

The increasing demand for sustainable and eco-friendly energy sources has led to the exploration of biodiesel as an alternative to conventional diesel. Sal seed biodiesel, derived from Shorea robusta, offers a promising solution, but its use in diesel engines requires optimization of engine parameters to enhance performance and minimize harmful emissions. This study explores the optimization of diesel engine parameters for Sal seed biodiesel blends to reduce emissions and enhance engine performance. A Taguchi L16 orthogonal array design was employed to systematically evaluate the effects of three key input parameters: engine load (ranging from 0.2 kg to 13.5 kg), biodiesel blend percentage (B0, B10, B20, B30, B50), and injection pressure (190, 200, 210, and 220 bar). The use of the Taguchi method reduced the number of required experiments from potentially dozens to just 16 trials, efficiently capturing the interactions between these parameters. The optimal combination for maximizing engine performance was found at 200 bar injection pressure and a B30 blend. This research provides valuable insights into the effective use of Sal seed biodiesel in diesel engines, contributing to cleaner and more sustainable engine operations.