IOSR Journal of Mechanical and Civil Engineering (IOSR-JMCE) e-ISSN: 2278-1684,p-ISSN: 2320-334X, Volume 12, Issue 2 Ver. VI (Mar - Apr. 2015), PP 59-65 www.iosrjournals.org DOI: 10.9790/1684-12265965 www.iosrjournals.org 59 | Page Parametric Optimization of Single Cylinder Diesel Engine for Jatropha Biodiesel and Diesel Blend for Mechanical Efficiency Using Taguchi Method Dhruv V. Patel 1 , Tushar M. Patel 2 , Gaurav P Rathod 3 1 ME Scholar, Mechanical Department, L.D.R.P.-I.T.R., Gandhinagar, India 2 Associate Professor, Mechanical Department, L.D.R.P.-I.T.R., Gandhinagar, India 3 Assistant Professor, Mechanical Department, L.D.R.P.-I.T.R., Gandhinagar, India Abstract: An experimental study has been carried out for Jatropha biodiesel blended with diesel used in single cylinder diesel engine. Jatropha biodiesel is obtained from Jatropha oil by tranesterification process. Blending of Jatropha biodiesel with diesel in maximum possible proportion helps to reduce the consumption of diesel fuel. In this study, the effects of parameters’ i.e. load, blend proportion and compression ratio are taken as variable for optimization. As the experiment required simultaneously optimization of three parameters with three levels, taguchi method of optimization is used in this experiment. The results of the taguchi experiment identifies that 50% blend ratio, compression ratio 16 and engine load 10kg are optimum parameter setting for highest mechanical efficiency. Engine performance is mostly influenced by engine load and is least influenced by blend ratio. Confirmation experiment was done using optimum combination showed that mechanical efficiency was found by experiment is closer to the predicated value. Keywords: Blend ratio, Compression ratio, Mechanical efficiency, Taguchi, Jatropha I. Introduction According to statistical review of world energy published by British Petroleum the increase of oil reserves in world from 2012 to 2013 is 0.60% whereas oil consumption increases from 2012 to 2013 is 1.40%. [1] Due to the increasing awareness of the depletion of fossil fuel resources and environmental issues, biodiesel became more attractive in the recent years. Biodiesel production is a promising and important field of research because the relevance it gains from the rising petroleum price and its environmental advantages. [2] In present situation, there is much possibility of multifold increase in the research in biodiesel, vegetable oils like soybean oil, rapeseeds oil, sunflower oil, methanol, ethanol and other alternate fuels. Considering alternate fuels as a substitute of diesel, Researchers are continuously finding best alternative solution, which gives the best performance and fuel characteristics. [3] In such multivariate problem, use of non linear techniques like Design of Experiments (DoE), fuzzy logic and neural network are suitable to explore the combined effects of input parameters. The optimum operating parameters for a given system can be determined by using experimental techniques but it will be time consuming and expensive when the number of parameters are in the order of 20, 30 etc., like in the case of IC engines. In such situations mathematical modeling will be a very useful tool for optimizing the parameters. Such a mathematical tool is Design of Experiment. Although few studies were reported using DoE in IC Engine applications, the study on combined effects between input system parameters such as injection pressure, load, blend proportion on the performance characteristics of CI engine was scarce and offered a scope for this study. [4] II. Jatropha Biodiesel Jatropha biodiesel is obtained from Jatropha oil. It is reported that a dry seed of Jatropha curcas contains about 55% of oil. Following are the steps to be followed to extract oil from seeds: 1. Shelling: This is to remove the seed coat. 2. Milling: The unshelled seeds were milled into dough using the corn mill machine. 3. Moisture content: If moisture is less than 12% w.b. add water or else remove water to achieve 12% moisture content. 4. Rolling: Dough rolled into balls of about 1kg by weight. 5. Heating: Raise the temperature of the rolled dough to 75-800 0 C by placing them in an oven. 6. Pressing: Rolled heated dough was pressed using the ram-press. 7. Filtration: The oil was collected and filtered. [5]