IOSR Journal of Mechanical and Civil Engineering (IOSR-JMCE) e-ISSN: 2278-1684,p-ISSN: 2320-334X, Volume 14, Issue 2 Ver. V (Mar. - Apr. 2017), PP 107-111 www.iosrjournals.org DOI: 10.9790/1684-140205107111 www.iosrjournals.org 107 | Page Parametric Optimization of Single Cylinder Diesel Engine Fueled with Karanja Biodiesel & Diesel Blend for Brake Thermal Efficiency using Taguchi method Jinalben M Prajapati 1 , Pragna R Patel 2 , Dr. Tushar M Patel 3 1 M.E. Scholar, Mechanical Engineering Department, LDRP-ITR, Gandhinagar, India. 2 Assistant Professor, Mechanical Engineering Department, LDRP-ITR, Gandhinagar, India. 3 Professor, Mechanical Engineering Department, LDRP-ITR, Gandhinagar, India. Abstract: An experimental study has been carried out for Karanja biodiesel and it’s blend with diesel used in single cylinder diesel engine. Biodiesel is obtained from oil by Trans-esterification process. In this study, the effects of parameters` i.e. blend ratio, compression ratio, injection pressure and load are taken as variable for optimization. As the experiment required simultaneously optimization of four parameters with three levels, Taguchi method of optimization is used in this experiment. The results of the Taguchi experiment identifies that 0% blend ratio, 18 compression ratio, injection pressure 160 bar and engine load 9 kg are optimum parameter setting for highest brake thermal efficiency. Engine performance is mostly influenced by engine load and is least influenced by injection pressure. Confirmation experiment was done using optimum combination showed that brake thermal efficiency was found by experiment is closer to the predicated value. Keywords: Karanja biodiesel, Trans-esterification, Taguchi method I. Introduction Consumption of the fossil fuels reserves and increasing cost of the petrol and diesel are the big troubles of today’s world. Two approaches are provide for this problem solution, first produce substitute fuel or diesel engine and second one is increases the combustion efficiency. Biodiesel fuel production have been established various process such as emulsification, pyrolysis and trans-esterification. The source used for the Biodiesel production is the eco-friendly and emit less emission. Several cooking (Caster, Sesame, Groundnut, Palm, Soybean, Corn, etc.), and non-cooking oils (Jatropha, Karanja, Neem, Mahua etc.) and fats, agricultural waste, plastic waste, tire waste, etc. Various optimization techniques used for engine study are Taguchi method, RSM method, nonlinear regression method, and genetic algorithm. DOE with upgrading of control parameters to obtain the ‘best’ outcomes is achieved in the Taguchi Method. The Taguchi method develops orthogonal arrays from theory of DOE to examine a more number of variables with a less number of trials. Optimum design of input parameters were recognized that can increase mechanical efficiency and brake thermal efficiency. It has been studied the effects of biodiesel blend, injection pressure, compression ratio and load on Brake thermal efficiency. The Taguchi method develops L9 orthogonal arrays, in this design 4 parameter with 3 levels. Total number of experiment runs will be 9. In this paper optimization study of variable compression ratio diesel engine fueled with Karanja biodiesel and its blend using the Taguchi method. II. Literature Review NATARAJ et al. (2005) studied on adjusting diesel engine parameters for low emissions using Taguchi technique. Measurement of exhaust emissions of the enhanced engine showed that carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon and burn emissions remain decreasing [1]. HULWAN et al. (2010) studied on properties improvement and performance advantage of diesel-ethanol-biodiesel blends with higher percentage of ethanol in a multi cylinder IDI diesel engine. The BSFC increased for the blends at all the loads compared to diesel fuel. The BTE increase for the blends is due to the rise in the peak pressure resulting from a better combustion process, which tends to increase the conversion of heat into work [2]. KARNWAL et al. (2010) studied Taguchi method and GRA for optimization of diesel engine act parameters. It was found that diesel engine when operated on 30% biodiesel blend, low CR of 14, high IP 250 bar and 20º has given optimum engine performance which is defined thru maximum thermal efficiency, minimum BSEC, least EGT and lowest emissions [3]. JOSHI et al. (2012) studied on adjusting diesel engine parameters for better mechanical efficiency using Taguchi technique. They concluded that Taguchi is best method for control parameter and also concluded that optimum parameter set for highest mechanical efficiency is 5% blend ratio, 20% engine load, 180 bar injection pressure, engine performance most influenced by load end least influenced by injection pressure [4]. SIVARAMAKRISHNAN et al. (2012) investigated Karanja biodiesel used in place of straight diesel fuel with Taguchi multiple regression analysis and optimization performance. Result found that the emissions CO, HC