Statistical investigation of combustion and emission characteristics of biofuels according to their physical properties: A way to explore suitable alternative fuels.

• Random forest regression and linear regression analyses were employed to investigate the influence of fuel properties on combustion performance and emissions. • Relative importance and correlations of different fuel properties with NO x , CO 2 , and CO emissions are highlighted. • Viscosity appears to be the most influential property for CO emissions, while hydrogen content seems to be more significant for CO 2 emissions. • Regression analysis may be useful for fuel development and emission control strategies. The Pollutant emissions and limited fossil fuel resources attracted researchers toward alternative fuels. Therefore, the combustion of liquid biofuels (as an alternative fuel) is gaining importance in research for the power generation sector for gas turbine engines and internal combustion engines. The physical properties of these fuels play an important role in the combustion characteristics (in terms of flame characteristics, emission characteristics, and flame temperature profile characteristics), and their experimental testing is costly. Considering the importance of research and cost in the experiment, the analysis is carried out to develop a new model for evaluating post-combustion emission characteristics based on the physical properties of liquid fuels. Raw data is extracted from experimental investigations to establish the present analysis models. Experimental studies have been carried out to evaluate the properties of different fuels and their composition-wise effects on flame, temperature, and emission characteristics. Thereby, reliable combustion performance and low emission profiles (in terms of physical fuel properties) can be ensured for potential alternative fuels. The results of the analysis show that specific properties such as high viscosity, high density, and high aromatic content of the fuel have the potential to generate high CO. In contrast, a decrease in these properties promotes high CO 2 formation. In addition, low NO x emissions and low CO trends are unlikely to be achieved by simultaneously changing the value of fuel properties. The analysis shows that the low viscosity of the fuel induces low soot emission and flame length retardant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]