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Computational optimization of biodiesel combustion using response surface methodology

Ganji Prabhakara Rao (NIT Warangal, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Telangana, India)
Raju Rajesh Khana V. (NIT Warangal, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Telangana, India)
Rao Srinivasa S. (NIT Warangal, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Telangana, India)

The present work focuses on optimization of biodiesel combustion phenomena through parametric approach using response surface methodology. Physical properties of biodiesel play a vital role for accurate simulations of the fuel spray, atomization, combustion, and emission formation processes. Typically methyl based biodiesel consists of five main types of esters: methyl palmitate, methyl oleate, methyl stearate, methyl linoleate, and methyl linolenate in its composition. Based on the amount of methyl esters present the properties of pongamia bio-diesel and its blends were estimated. CONVERGETM computational fluid dynamics software was used to simulate the fuel spray, turbulence and combustion phenomena. The simulation responses such as indicated specific fuel consumption, NOx, and soot were analyzed using design of experiments. Regression equations were developed for each of these responses. The optimum parameters were found out to be compression ratio – 16.75, start of injection – 21.9° before top dead center, and exhaust gas re-circulation – 10.94%. Results have been compared with baseline case.

Keywords: CONVERGETM, optimization, response surface methodology, pongamia biodiesel, variable compression ratio engine