Parametric optimization for performance and emissions of an IDI engine with Mahua biodiesel

Experimental investigation was done on the IDI engine using Diesel, Mahua methyl ester (MME) and Methanol additive blends. The performance and emissions were carried out on the Indirect Injection diesel (IDI) engine with two input parameters like load and fuel and for nine response parameters like exhaust gas temperature (EGT), brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC), brake thermal efficiency (BTHE) and emissions like Hydro carbons (HC), Carbon monoxide (CO), Carbon dioxide (CO2), Oxygen (O2), Nitrogen oxides (NOX), Smoke. In order to find out the optimal response the set of experiments were conducted using the design of experiments suggested by Taguchi for reducing time and cost. Then Grey Relational analysis was applied to the experimental data to find out the optimal combination of the load and fuel by converting the multi response problem into the single response problem with the help of Grey Relational Grade. Signal to noise ratio is calculated for the Grey Relational Grade (GRG) and optimal combination is found. The results after Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) were validated with the Response surface methodology (RSM) in which a desirability approach was used to find the optimal combination. It is found that the experimental results almost coincided with validation results. The optimal combination was found to be 20 kg of load and MME + 3% Methanol as the fuel.