INVESTIGATIONAL ANALYSIS OF PERFORMANCE CHARACTERISTICS AND EMISSION OF CASHEW NUT SHELL BIODIESEL ON DI DIESEL ENGINE

In this study, the combustion and emission characteristics of biodiesel produced from Cashew nut shell oil and its blends and diesel fuel were compared. The experiments were performed in a single-cylinder direct injection diesel engine at steady-state conditions over the constant RPM (1500 RPM). During the experiments, the specific fuel consumption (SFC), pollutant emissions like hydrocarbon (HC), carbon monoxide (CO), oxides of nitrogen NOx) and smoke, and in-cylinder pressures were measured. The experimental results showed that, biodiesel blends had a 26.79 - 24% reduction in brake thermal relative to diesel fuel. On the other hand, Cashew nut shell oil biodiesel drastically increases CO, HC and smoke, while the NOx emission decreased. The combustion analysis showed that the addition of Cashew nut shell oilbiodiesel to diesel fuel reduced the ignition delay period and also reduced the premixed peak. These results showed that Cashew nut shell oil biodiesel and its blends could be used without any modifications as an alternative fuel in diesel engine