Parameter optimization of a diesel engine to reduce noise, fuel consumption, and exhaust emissions using response surface methodology

The conflicting effects of the operating parameters and the injection parameter (injection timing) on engine performance and environmental pollution factors is studied in this paper. As an optimization objective, a 3.5 kW small direct injection diesel engine was used as the test engine, and its speed, load, and static injection timing were varied as per 4 x 4 x 3 full factorial design array. Radiated engine noise, smoke level, brake specific fuel consumption, and emissions of unburned hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides were captured for all test runs. Objective functions relating input and output parameters were obtained using response surface methodology (RSM). Parameter optimization was carried out to control output responses under their mean limit using multi-objective goal programming and minimax programming optimization techniques.