Optimization of performance and emission characteristics of VCR engine with biodiesel using response surface methodology

Due to an increase in the population and over-exploitation of fossil fuels, give us a prospect to discover environmentally friendly and clean fuels for the existing unmodified diesel engines for automobiles to reduce the air pollution. The aim of this study is to optimize the performance and emission characteristics of biodiesel (i.e.,) Plastic and Castor oil in Variable Compression Ratio (VCR) engine using Box-Behnken Design (BBD) of Response Surface Methodology (RSM). 15 Experimental runs were carried out with the input parameters as Blend (B), Compression Ratio (CR) and Load (L) ranges from B0, B10, B20 and 15, 16, 17 and 0, 5, 10 respectively for the responses like Brake Specific Fuel Consumption (BSFC), Brake Thermal Efficiency (BTE), Hydro-Carbon (HC), Carbon-monoxide (CO), Oxides of Nitrogen (NOX). From RSM, mathematical models and optimizer plots were employed to find the optimal parameters for the BSFC, BTE and HC, CO, NOx. Highest desirability for maximum 1.0 is observed for BSFC, 0.91 for BTE and for minimum 0.95 for NOx, 0.68 for HC and 0.55 for CO. Composite desirability of 0.79 is observed for blend B10 CR 16:1 and Load 5 kg. The outcomes of the test carried out for the validation test with the estimated values were observed from the model and almost coincided with the validation results with smaller deviations. (C) 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.