Regan Brown
Diesel fuel is a distillate fuel oil derived from crude oil through fractional distillation. It is a mixture of hydrocarbons with a boiling point range of 150 to 380°C. The most common type of diesel fuel, petroleum diesel, is produced by fractional distillation of crude oil at atmospheric pressure. This process results in a mixture of carbon chains containing 9 to 25 carbon atoms per molecule. Diesel fuel is primarily used in high-speed diesel engines, particularly in motor vehicles, and its viscosity is typically specified at 40°C. While diesel fuel is designed for diesel engines, it can also be used in non-diesel engines, such as the Akroyd engine and Stirling engine.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Main component | Crude oil |
| Other components | Biomass materials, alkanes, aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, vegetable seed oil |
| Type of fuel | Distillate fuel oil |
| Use | Motor vehicles with compression ignition engines, generators, boilers for steam engines, non-diesel engines |
| Calorific value | 45.5 MJ/kg |
| Energy by volume | 15% more than petrol (roughly 36.9 MJ/litre compared to 33.7 MJ/litre) |
| Energy efficiency | 20% greater than a petrol engine |
| Viscosity | 40 °C |
| Sulphur content | 15 parts per million or less |
| Other contents | Nitrogen compounds, lubricity additives |
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What You'll Learn
Diesel fuel is derived from crude oil
Diesel fuel is a distillate fuel oil, derived from crude oil through fractional distillation. It is a mixture of hydrocarbons, with boiling points ranging from 150 to 380°C. The process of distillation separates the different hydrocarbons present in crude oil, which have varying chain lengths and boiling points. This separation results in the production of diesel fuel, which primarily consists of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons with a boiling point range of approximately 163-357°C.
Petroleum diesel, the most common type of diesel fuel, is produced by fractional distillation of crude oil between 200 and 350°C at atmospheric pressure. This process yields a mixture of carbon chains typically containing 9 to 25 carbon atoms per molecule. The resulting fraction undergoes hydrodesulfurization to remove impurities. However, the supply and quality of straight-run diesel are often insufficient, necessitating the blending of other diesel fuel sources.
Crude oil, the source of diesel fuel, is composed of hydrocarbons belonging to three major classes: paraffinic, naphthenic (or cycloparaffinic), and aromatic hydrocarbons. The composition of crude oil varies, resulting in different colours and densities. Thin, low-density oils are termed "high-gravity" crude oils, while thick, high-density oils are known as "low-gravity" crude oils. The refining process separates these hydrocarbons to produce diesel fuel, petrol, and other oil-based products.
The production of diesel fuel involves three main steps: distillation, conversion, and clean-up. After distillation, various techniques are employed to convert some fractions into others. These techniques include cracking, unification, and alteration, which allow refineries to adjust the composition to meet the demand for diesel or petrol fuel. The final step, clean-up, involves treating the distillate and chemically processed fractions to eliminate impurities such as organic compounds containing sulphur, nitrogen, oxygen, water, dissolved metals, and inorganic salts.
Diesel fuel is commonly used in high-speed diesel engines, particularly in motor vehicles like cars and lorries. It is also used in freight and delivery trucks, trains, buses, boats, and various other vehicles. Additionally, diesel fuel serves as a backup and emergency power supply in many industrial facilities, large buildings, hospitals, and electric utilities.
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Diesel fuel contains sulphur
Diesel fuel is derived from crude oil and biomass materials. Crude oil contains hundreds of different types of hydrocarbons mixed with impurities such as sulphur. Diesel fuel is produced by the fractional distillation of crude oil, resulting in a mixture of carbon chains that typically contain between 9 and 25 carbon atoms per molecule. This fraction is then treated to remove impurities and subjected to hydrodesulfurization.
Historically, high levels of sulphur in diesel fuel required engine oils with additives that prevented the build-up of sulphuric acid and coated engine parts with a protective layer to reduce corrosive wear. These additives, known as detergents, provided an alkaline base that helped neutralise the acid and protect engine components. While these additives reduced engine wear, they did not address the long-term environmental effects of sulphur.
In recent years, there have been global efforts to improve air quality and remove sulphur from diesel fuel. In 2006, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued requirements to reduce the sulphur content of diesel fuel sold in the United States. This led to the introduction of ultra-low-sulphur diesel (ULSD), which has dramatically lowered the sulphur content in diesel fuel. Similar regulations and standards for ULSD have been implemented in Europe, South America, and other parts of the world. These changes have significantly reduced the allowable sulphur content in diesel fuel, improving air quality and engine performance.
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Diesel engines can run on fuel oils
Diesel fuel is the common term for the distillate fuel oil sold for use in motor vehicles that use the compression ignition engine. It is produced by the fractional distillation of crude oil at a particular temperature and pressure, resulting in a mixture of carbon chains. Before diesel fuel was standardized, most diesel engines ran on cheap fuel oils. These fuel oils are still used in watercraft diesel engines.
Large two-stroke watercraft engines typically use heavy fuel oils instead of diesel fuel. This is because of the size of the engines, which are larger than cars and need to deliver a lot of power to move and propel the ship. The use of fuel oils is also driven by economics, as marine engines consume enormous amounts of fuel, so ship operators use the cheapest, least desirable sludge that oil refineries produce.
Residual fuel oil cannot be used in road vehicles, boats, or small ships as the equipment required to heat the oil takes up valuable space and makes the vehicle heavier. However, power plants and large ships are able to use residual fuel oil.
In some cases, diesel oil can be used in gas engines, provided it meets the appropriate specifications and viscosity requirements. For example, if a gas engine calls for a 5W-30 motor oil that meets the API SN PLUS specification, a diesel oil with the correct viscosity that meets the API SN PLUS spec can be used.
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Diesel fuel is denser than petrol
Diesel fuel is a distillate fuel oil commonly used in motor vehicles with compression ignition engines. It is named after its inventor, German engineer Rudolf Diesel, who patented the original design in 1892. Diesel fuel is produced by the fractional distillation of crude oil between 200 and 350 °C at atmospheric pressure. This process results in a mixture of carbon chains typically containing between 9 and 25 carbon atoms per molecule.
Diesel fuel has a higher density than petrol. Specifically, diesel fuel contains about 15% more energy by volume, with roughly 36.9 MJ/litre compared to 33.7 MJ/litre for petrol. This difference in energy density translates into a 20% greater overall efficiency for diesel engines compared to petrol engines, even though diesel engines are typically heavier. For example, a fuel consumption of 1 litre per 100km corresponds to approximately 26.5g CO2/km for diesel and 23g CO2/km for petrol, depending on the exact composition of the fuel.
The higher density of diesel fuel is due to its chemical composition. Diesel, or gas oil, is made of alkanes containing 12 or more carbon atoms, while petrol is made of a mix of alkanes and cycloalkanes with a chain length of between 5 and 12 carbon atoms. The longer hydrocarbon chains in diesel fuel contribute to its higher density.
The production of diesel fuel involves various techniques to convert and refine the distilled fractions. Cracking, for instance, breaks large hydrocarbon chains into smaller ones, while unification combines smaller chains to form larger ones. Alteration is another technique employed, rearranging various isomers to create desired hydrocarbons. These processes allow refineries to adjust their output of diesel and petrol fuel based on market demand.
Diesel fuel is widely used in Europe, with over half of new car registrations in this category. Its advantages include higher energy density, leading to greater fuel efficiency and lower CO2 emissions. However, diesel fuel also contains more pollutants, requiring the extraction of impurities during the refining process to achieve comparable emissions levels with petrol.
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Diesel fuel is used in freight trucks, trains, and boats
Diesel fuel is a common term for distillate fuel oil used in motor vehicles with compression-ignition engines. It is named after its inventor, Rudolf Diesel, who patented his original design in 1892. Diesel fuel is used in freight trucks, trains, and boats because of its wide range of performance, efficiency, and safety features.
Diesel fuel is refined from crude oil and biomass materials. The process of refining diesel fuel from crude oil involves fractional distillation at temperatures between 200 and 350 °C and atmospheric pressure. This results in a mixture of carbon chains containing 9 to 25 carbon atoms per molecule. The fraction undergoes further treatment, including hydrodesulfurization, to improve its supply and quality.
Diesel engines in freight trucks, trains, and boats help transport most of the products consumed by people. In the United States, diesel fuel is used in nearly 98% of vehicles, including freight trucks and buses. Diesel engines are also commonly found in construction, farming, and military vehicles. The use of diesel fuel offers advantages in terms of performance and efficiency. Diesel fuel has a higher energy density than petrol, containing about 15% more energy by volume. This results in a 20% greater overall efficiency of the diesel engine compared to its petrol counterpart.
However, it is important to note that diesel exhaust, especially from older engines, can cause health damage. To address this issue, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency implemented requirements in 2006 to reduce the sulfur content in diesel fuel. As a result, diesel fuel sold in the United States for on-highway use is now ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD), significantly reducing harmful air pollution emissions.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, diesel fuel is derived from crude oil through fractional distillation. It is a mixture of hydrocarbons with a boiling point range of 150 to 380°C.
Diesel fuel, also known as distillate fuel oil, is made from alkanes containing 12 or more carbon atoms. These alkanes are derived from the fractional distillation of crude oil.
Diesel fuel is primarily used in high-speed diesel engines, particularly motor vehicles such as cars and lorries. It is also used in generators for electricity production and as backup power in hospitals and industrial facilities.
