A comparative study of almond and palm oils as two bio-diesel fuels for diesel engine in terms of emissions and performance

• Engine performance fueled with almond and palm oil biodiesels was investigated.
• This study provides options for new valuable use for an existing crops.
• Almond biodiesel resulted in improved engine performance compared to palm oil biodiesel.
• Almond biodiesel produced lower emissions in the exhaust gas of the engine tested.
• Almond oil could be effective as an alternative fuel for diesel engines.

This study was initiated to investigate the various performance parameters and emissions of a single cylinder diesel engine operating on almond biodiesel and compare them to the performance and emissions when the engine is operated on palm oil biodiesel and ‘baseline’ diesel fuel through laboratory measurements. Different fuel blends containing 0%, 10%, 30% and 50% on volume basis of almond biodiesel with diesel fuel were tested. Another fuel blends consist of 0%, 10%, 30% and 50% on volume basis of palm oil biodiesel in a palm biodiesel–diesel fuel were also tested. The influence of these blends on emissions and some performance parameters under various load conditions were inspected. Compared to the results obtained using palm oil biodiesel, almond biodiesel resulted in improved performance over the load range considered as indicated by lower brake specific fuel consumption, higher thermal efficiency, and higher exhaust gas temperature. In terms of emissions, almond biodiesel resulted in lower carbon monoxide (CO), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), total particulate and unburned fuel emissions in the exhaust gas.