Performance Analysis Of Blended Cashew Nut Shell Oil In Diesel Engine

Abstract

This study investigates the performance of a single-cylinder compression ignition (CI) engine fuelled with cashew nut shell oil (CNSO) biodiesel blends, explored as a viable alternative to conventional diesel. CNSO was blended with diesel in varying proportions to reduce its high viscosity, which was further analysed across different temperatures. The engine’s performance was evaluated under varying load conditions and compared against neat diesel. Results indicated that reducing the viscosity of CNSO blends led to significant improvements in engine performance. Furthermore, increasing the injection pressure enhanced Brake Thermal Efficiency, Mechanical Efficiency, and Volumetric Efficiency. Among the tested blends, B15 and B50 demonstrated optimal performance without requiring any engine modifications.