Experimental Investigation and Multi-Parameter Optimization of Compression Ignition Engine Performance Using Cottonseed and Other Biodiesel Blends through Taguchi and Grey Relational Analysis

Authors

  • Mohsin Lalabhai Shaikh Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical, Vishwabharati Academy’s College of Engineering, Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra, India Author
  • Babasaheb Shankar Hajare Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical, Vishwabharati Academy’s College of Engineering, Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra, India Author
  • Vishal Suresh Kadam Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical, Vishwabharati Academy’s College of Engineering, Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra, India Author
  • Aniket Chandrashekhar Bobade Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical, Vishwabharati Academy’s College of Engineering, Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra, India Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32628/IJSRMME261011

Keywords:

Biodiesel, Cottonseed oil, Compression ignition engine, Taguchi method, Grey Relational Analysis, BSFC, Brake Thermal Efficiency, Emission optimization

Abstract

The depletion of fossil fuels and the growing concerns over environmental degradation have stimulated research into renewable biofuels as sustainable alternatives to conventional diesel. This study presents an experimental investigation and optimization of a compression ignition (C.I.) engine operated with various biodiesel–diesel blends derived from cottonseed, Jatropha and Neem oils. Experiments were conducted using a single-cylinder, 4-stroke, direct injection (DI), water-cooled diesel engine under varying loads, speeds and blend ratios. The Design of Experiments (DOE) approach was implemented using the Taguchi L9 orthogonal array to evaluate the combined influence of control parameters such as blend ratio, engine load and speed on engine performance indicators—namely Brake Thermal Efficiency (BTE), Brake Specific Fuel Consumption (BSFC) and emission characteristics. Grey Relational Analysis (GRA) was employed for multi-response optimization to identify the ideal operational parameters for maximum efficiency and minimal emissions. Results reveal that a B20 cottonseed biodiesel blend at 195 bar injection pressure provided optimal performance, achieving a peak brake thermal efficiency of 34.01% with reduced specific fuel consumption and smoke density. Comparative analysis with Jatropha and Neem biodiesels confirmed cottonseed biodiesel’s superior trade-off between performance and emission control. The developed mathematical model for thermal efficiency validated experimental results with minimal error, demonstrating the potential of cottonseed biodiesel as a viable renewable substitute for conventional diesel fuel.

References

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R. Senthil Kumar, R. Manimaran, “Performance and Emission Characteristics on 4-Stroke Single Cylinder C.I. Engine Using Cottonseed Biofuels,” Asian Journal of Engineering Research, vol. 1, 2013.

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K. Dilip Kumar, P. Ravindra Kumar, “Experimental Investigation of Cotton Seed and Neem Methyl Esters as Biodiesel,” IJMER, vol. 2, 2012.

A. V. Krishna Reddy et al., “Brake Thermal Efficiency and BSFC of Diesel Engine Fuelled with Biodiesel,” IJET, vol. 2, no. 5, 2010.

S.N. Sarada et al., “Optimization of Injection Pressure for C.I. Engine with Cottonseed Oil,” IJEST, vol. 2, no. 6, 2010. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/ijest.v2i6.63705

V. Ganeshan, Internal Combustion Engines, 2nd Ed., McGraw Hill, 2003.

Biodiesel Technologies India, www.biodieseltechnologiesindia.com.

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Published

21-01-2026

Issue

Section

Research Articles

How to Cite

[1]
Mohsin Lalabhai Shaikh, Babasaheb Shankar Hajare, Vishal Suresh Kadam, and Aniket Chandrashekhar Bobade, “Experimental Investigation and Multi-Parameter Optimization of Compression Ignition Engine Performance Using Cottonseed and Other Biodiesel Blends through Taguchi and Grey Relational Analysis”, Int. J. Sci. Res. Mech. Mater. Eng, vol. 10, no. 1, pp. 01–11, Jan. 2026, doi: 10.32628/IJSRMME261011.