Evaluation of combustion, performance and emissions of a diesel engine fueled with bio-fuel produced from cashew nut shell liquid

Presently, energy security and food security are two major problems of developing countries. The use of edible oils as an alternative fuel for internal combustion may lead to a food crisis. The non-edible plant-based alternative fuel not only results in energy security but also helps to keep the environment free from pollution. In this experimental investigation, a non-edible plant-based bio-fuel cardanol produced from cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) is used to study the combustion, performance and emissions of a single-cylinder diesel engine. The test conditions of the engine are 200 bar injection pressure and 27.5 degree bTDC injection timing. The bio-fuel blends B10M10 (10% cardanol + 80% diesel + 10% methanol), B20M10, and B30M10 (30% cardanol + 60% diesel + 10% methanol) were tested at 25%, 50%, 75%, and full load conditions. The results were compared with baseline diesel operation. From the experimental work, it was observed that the brake thermal efficiency of B10M10 and B20M10 (20% cardanol + 70% diesel + 10% methanol) is comparatively similar to that of diesel. The lower emissions of CO, hydrocarbon, and smoke are encouraging to recognize B20M10 as an optimized fuel blend for a compression ignition engine at 200 bar injection pressure and 27.5 degree bTDC. The significant factors of cardanol bio-fuel include its low cost, non-edible, abundance, and it is a by-product of the cashew nut industries.