Gasifier-engine performance analysis using Co-gasification of mahua wood waste and saw-dust briquette blend: an experimental and optimization approach

Abstract

The gasifier-compression ignition engine (G-CIE) system has been an attractive alternative power source to generate decentralized electricity and reduce ecological degradation. However, the major challenge of G-CIE system is to deal with the performance-emission trade-off via operating settings, consequently, low power and efficiency. Hence, this study aims to generate producer gas (PG) from the co-gasification of mahua wood and saw-dust briquette from the downdraft gasifier and to determine the performance of the G-CIE system with dual-fueled diesel and PG. Furthermore, the novelty of this work is to optimize G-CIE’s operating variables, such as gasification equivalence ratio (ER), engine compression ratio (CR), and engine brake power (BP). To this end, a multi-objective optimization tool, response surface methodology (RSM), was applied to employ optimization of the operating setting. Results reveal the optimum operational conditions as 0.10 gasification ER, 16CR, and 3.18 kW engine BP. The corresponding performance responses are brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC) 0.1654 kg/kWh, brake thermal efficiency (BTE) 17.41%, sound intensity 91.74 db, CO 0.017% vol., HC 3.83 ppm, CO2 3.11%vol., and NOx 1.85 ppm. Maximum diesel replacement observed was 44.76%, 54.28%, and 62.75% at CR 16, 17, and 18, respectively. The average values obtained for R2 were 95–99% and 0.8380 composite desirabilities. Furthermore, predicted performance responses were compared experimentally at optimized input conditions and found to be a 6.07% maximum error. Thus, using RSM, the proper operating setting can be found, and results will be guided to end-users for more diesel substitution and environmental protection. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2023.