Experimental study and optimization of performance characteristics of compression ignition hydrogen engine with diesel pilot injection.

World's energy demand is majorly met by fossil fuels. An increase in the demand for energy and the depletion of fossil fuels leads to look for the alternate source of energy. Hydrogen is one of the most viable alternate sources of alternate energy. This paper presents the performance study of a Compression Ignition engine using a fuel combination of diesel and hydrogen-diesel. The performance parameters have been analyzed with two input factors, load and Compression Ratio and three output responses, Brake Thermal efficiency (BTE), Brake Specific Fuel Consumption (BSFC) and Volumetric efficiency. The experimental results indicate the improvement in BTE, reduction in BSFC and volumetric efficiency. The BTE was improved by 6.38%, BSFC was reduced by 4.87% and Volumetric efficiency got reduced by 1.89% when hydrogen-diesel fuel is used in place of neat diesel. The experiments have been designed with the help of Design Expert® 13.0.5 using Response Surface Method. The experiments are conducted using Optimal (Custom) design. Mathematical relations are developed between the process parameters and the input factors using regression analysis. The optimal solution has been obtained using the desirability approach. The confirmation experiments have been performed on the optimal solution to verify with the experiment results. Results of the confirmation test shows that the developed mathematical are appropriate for the use in CI engine. • Use of Hydrogen (H 2) as alternate fuel in CI engine. • Experimental investigation of CI engine's performance parameters using Diesel and Hydrogen fuels. • Optimization of CI engine's performance parameters using Response Surface Method. • Performance parameters of H 2 fuelled CI Engine increased at higher compression ratio under varying load condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]