Optimization of compression ratio and injection timing of a diesel engine Fueled with oxygenated blends using fuzzy logic-based Taguchi method.

Alcohol-based fuels are slowly emerging as most promising alternative fuel. Among different alcohols, diethyl ether (DEE) appears to have the largest potential to be used as fuel. In this study, a constant speed, diesel engine was tested for the change in its performance when fueled with diesel – diethyl ether blends. Three blends of diethyl ether and diesel, DEE6 (6% diethyl ether and 94% diesel), DEE8 (8% diethyl ether and 92% diesel), and DEE10 (10% diethyl ether and 90% diesel) were used for the experimentation. Full factorial experiments were conducted by varying engine compression ratio and injection timing. The results reveal improvement in engine performance with the compression ratio of 19:1 for the blends. The oxides of nitrogen emission was highest and the smoke, unburned hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions were lowest. Engine operation with DEE8 at 21°bTDC and 19:1 compression ratio gave a thermal efficiency improvement of 6.15%, and smoke, HC and CO reduced by 14.3%, 25% and 20.93%, respectively. For finding the best parameters for operating the engine, Fuzzy logic-based Taguchi method was applied. The results show that the best parameters for operating the engine are 21°bTDC injection timing and 19:1 compression ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]