Optimization of Engine Performance and Emissions with Fusel Oil Blends: A Response Surface Analysis on Speed and Throttle Parameters

Abstract

This study investigates the optimization of engine performance and emissions using fusel oil blends through Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The analysis focuses on key parameters, including engine speed, throttle position, and fuel blends, to determine their impact on brake thermal efficiency (BTE), brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC), and exhaust emissions. The results indicate that increasing engine speed and throttle improves BTE, achieving a maximum efficiency of 24.22%. Conversely, BSFC decreases with higher speed and throttle, reaching a minimum value of 353.62 g/kWh. Emission analysis reveals that nitrogen oxides (NOx) increase with engine speed and throttle, peaking at 658.23 ppm, while hydrocarbons (HC) and carbon monoxide (CO) decrease under the same conditions, with minimum values of 208.65 ppm and 2.95%, respectively. The optimization process identified the most favorable conditions at 3000 RPM engine speed, 40% throttle, and 30% fusel oil blend (F30), leading to performance improvements of 4.3% in power, 2.7% in BTE, and 3.6% in BSFC, alongside emission reductions of 0.8% for NOx, 6.0% for HC, and 5.9% for CO. The RSM model demonstrated a high accuracy with an R-squared value above 0.95 for all parameters, with validation experiments confirming an error margin below 5%. These findings suggest that fusel oil blends offer a promising alternative fuel for optimizing engine efficiency while reducing emissions.