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Volume 13 | Issue 6 | Year 2026 | Article Id. IJME-V13I6P104 | DOI : https://doi.org/10.14445/23488360/IJME-V13I6P104

Experimental Investigation of Thermal Conductivity Enhancement and Combustion Characteristics of Cashew Nut Shell Biodiesel Blended with Magnesium Oxide Nanoparticles

S. Victor Soosai Irudayaraj, V. Thanigaivelan, Y. Brucely, N. Lenin

Received Revised Accepted Published
07 Mar 2026 08 Apr 2026 10 May 2026 27 Jun 2026

Citation :

S. Victor Soosai Irudayaraj, V. Thanigaivelan, Y. Brucely, N. Lenin, "Experimental Investigation of Thermal Conductivity Enhancement and Combustion Characteristics of Cashew Nut Shell Biodiesel Blended with Magnesium Oxide Nanoparticles," International Journal of Mechanical Engineering, vol. 13, no. 6, pp. 35-48, 2026. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/23488360/IJME-V13I6P104

Abstract

The thermophysical constraints inherent in biodiesel, such as low thermal conductivity, increased viscosity, and poor cold-flow characteristics, usually lead to poor burning characteristics relative to traditional diesel. This paper examines the process of improving thermal Conductivity and Combustion Properties of Cashew Nut Shell Biodiesel (CNSBD100) by using Magnesium Oxide (MgO) nanoparticles at ultra-low levels of 50 ppm and 100 ppm. Biodiesel made out of cashew nut shells was done through two-step transesterification with MgO nanoparticles dispersed through ultrasonication. The thermal conductivity obtained showed that at 30°C, 6.6 and 9.6% improvements and at 70°C, 1.3 and 3.9% improvements were made in the 50-ppm and 100-ppm blends, respectively, relative to neat biodiesel. Experiments on a single-cylinder compression ignition engine working at peak load conditions revealed that an increase in the thermal conductivity was directly proportional to an increase in the combustion performance. The highest cylinder pressure rose to 59.50 bar with neat biodiesel and 63.79 bar (50 ppm) and 67.39 bar (100 ppm), and the latter reached 99.8% of the diesel performance (67.54 bar). Equally, maximum heat release rate increased from 67.64 J/°C·A to 72.12 J/°C·A (50 ppm) and 74.31 J/°C·A (100 ppm). The findings create a mechanistic association between the augmented thermal conductivity and combustion enhancement because of nanoparticles and the accelerated fuel evaporation, reduced ignition delay, and enhanced premixed combustion. This paper reveals that the thermophysical drawbacks of biodiesel can be effectively countered by ultra-low concentrations of MgO nanoparticles, which are a viable way to enhance combustion in modern diesel engines, in their current state.

Keywords

Biodiesel, Thermal conductivity, Combustion characteristics, Heat Release Rate, Compression Ignition Engine, Nano-Additives.

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