Performance enhancement and emission control through adjustment of operating parameters of a biogas-biodiesel dual fuel diesel engine: An experimental and statistical study with biogas as a hydrogen carrier

This study explores emissions regulation of a 3.5 kW single cylinder, direct injection, diesel engine fuelled with biogas and Mahua biodiesel. By varying the compression ratio from 17 to 18 with a step of 0.5, pilot fuel injection timing by 3 degrees BTDC from 23 degrees BTDC to 32 degrees BTDC, and engine load from 20% to 100% with a step of 20%, the optimal operating conditions are determined using response surface methodology. At the optimum engine operating parameter settings of a 17.73 compression ratio, 26.71 degrees BTDC pilot fuel injection timing, and 58.96% engine load, the optimum emissions are 42.89 ppm for NOx, 80.36 ppm for UHC, 4.23% Vol. for CO2, and 77.72 ppm for CO. Additionally, the study demonstrates a comparable brake thermal efficiency of 17.35% with 66.26% pilot fuel substitution, indicating biogas-biodiesel as a sustainable and renewable option for dual-fuel CI compressionignition engines.(c) 2023 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.