Preparation of bio composite from cashew nut shell and operational emission characteristics of azolla corn husk biogas powered diesel engine

Abstract

The main objective of this study is to find the effect of composition of biogas on the operating characteristics and exhaust gas emissions of a DI diesel engine run by a mixture of biogas and diesel. For experiment, a 5.2 kW Kirloskar made single cylinder, water cooled, direct injection diesel engine is altered into a dual fuel mode diesel engine by connecting a venturi gas mixer at the air inlet manifold. Jute fiber is one kind of lingo-cellulosic agro wastes, which has been used as a potential reinforcement in polymeric materials to make an eco friendly biogas plant. In this study, a bio-composite is developed using Jute fiber as the reinforcement and cardanol resin as matrix. The microstructures of the composites are characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to examine the morphological and surface characteristics of Jute fiber and cardanol resin. In addition, Fourier Transforms Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Thermo Gravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) were carried out. TGA and DTA results revealed that the treated Jute fiber composites have higher thermal stability (352°C and 361°C) than untreated Jute fiber composite (447°C and 458°C), at 30% particle loading, respectively. A bio composite reinforcement with treated Jute fiber appears to be a good alternative to obtain environmentally friendly biogas plants. Azolla and corn husk are the two feeds used to produce biogas in this work. Biogas from Azolla contains composition with methane proportion of 55-60% and for corn it was husk 43-49%. Diesel engine operation in dual fuel mode even with low methane fractions was feasible without undesirable effects on thermal efficiency and emissions. When biogas used in engine reduced the ignition delay for diesel which resulted in reduced smoke and hydrocarbon emissionsThis not merely improved the combustion phasing however also increased the peak heat release rate. Results showed that lower the fuel consumption, the CO and HC emissions and increased NOx can be reached in the dual