RSM Based Prediction of Engine Performance and Exhaust Temperature Fuelled with Preheated Cotton Seed Methyl Ester

Abstract

The conventional fuels are major sources of energy in the world. However, their limited reserves are a great concern owing to fast depletion due to increased demand worldwide. The biodiesel is gaining more importance as an alternative fuel and may be used in 100%, but it requires engine modifications to avoid viscosity problems. The preheating is done to overcome this difficulty. RSM is vital in the solution of many types of problems. This work aims to study the effect of engine torque and the preheat temperature on the usage of cotton seed methyl ester (COME) blends on engine performance and exhaust gas temperature (EGT) with response surface methodology. The interaction curves indicate the increased preheat of higher COME blends shows increased BTE. Further, the highest BTE was observed at 60ºC preheat temperature. From the extensive experimentation with RSM, the tedious experimental work was reduced and the preheated lower COME blends were marginally found better in terms of performance and lower EGT.