Ameer Randolph
Diesel fuel, also known as diesel oil, is a liquid fuel designed for use in diesel engines, which are internal combustion engines that use compression to ignite the fuel without a spark. Diesel fuel is most commonly derived from the fractional distillation of petroleum fuel oil, but can also be produced from biomass materials and waste oils. The distillation process separates hydrocarbons, with diesel fuel emerging at temperatures between 200 and 350 degrees Celsius. Diesel fuel is widely used in freight and delivery trucks, trains, buses, boats, and military vehicles, as well as for electricity generation and backup power supply.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What is diesel fuel made from? | Different waste oils, such as waste tire oil, waste plastic oil, used motor oil, waste engine oil, black oil, etc. |
| How is diesel fuel made? | Diesel fuel is made from crude oil through the process of fractional distillation. |
| Crude oil is heated to around 400 degrees Celsius and separated into various parts or fractions. | |
| The substances with higher boiling points condense at the bottom, while the lower ones condense at the top. | |
| The hydrocarbons with high boiling points make for better fuel solutions as they are volatile, easily flowing, and easily ignited. | |
| Diesel oil is obtained from the lower section of the distillation process with a higher boiling point and larger molecules. | |
| After distillation, the oil is pumped into an odor-removal tank and then a color-removal tank to obtain pure diesel oil. | |
| Diesel fuel can also be made by recombining the shorter hydrocarbon chain distillates in specific proportions. | |
| Additives are blended into the diesel fuel before it is ready for sale. | |
| Diesel fuel is also made from alternative sources that are not derived from petroleum, such as biodiesel, biomass-to-liquid (BTL), or gas-to-liquid (GTL) diesel. | |
| Where does diesel fuel come from? | Most of the diesel fuel consumed in the United States is produced by U.S. petroleum refineries. |
| In 2022, U.S. refineries produced about 1.75 billion barrels (73.46 billion gallons) of ultra-low sulfur distillate (ULSD) diesel fuel. | |
| Diesel fuel is transported through shared pipelines, trucks, trains, boats, or tank trucks to be delivered to the pumps. |
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What You'll Learn
Diesel fuel is refined from crude oil
Diesel fuel is a fossil fuel made from crude oil. Crude oil is a mixture of many types of carbon formed from ancient organic matter, such as plants and animals, over millions of years. Geologists use devices that utilise infrared signals and sonars to detect the possible presence of crude oil. Once discovered, the oil is extracted through motor-powered pumps with steel casings from beneath the seabed.
After extraction, the crude oil is transported to a refinery via truck, train, boat, or pipeline. At the refinery, the oil is heated to around 400 degrees Celsius and undergoes fractional distillation, a process that separates the solution into various parts or fractions based on their boiling points. The container into which the heated crude oil flows has several condensers at different heights. Substances with higher boiling points condense at the bottom, while those with lower boiling points condense at the top. This process extracts shorter and shorter hydrocarbon chains as the vapour rises in the tower, with the shortest chains emerging at the top as a vapour gas. These hydrocarbon chains are then combined in specific proportions to create diesel fuel.
Distilling petroleum produces various by-products such as lubricating oil, asphalt, fuel oil, kerosene, petrol, and gas. Diesel fuel has a higher boiling point and larger molecules compared to other by-products. After distillation, the distillation oil undergoes additional processes to remove odour and colour, resulting in pure diesel oil.
The final product is then transferred into barrels and transported to tank trucks for delivery to pumps. Diesel fuel is a crucial component for industry fleets, transport-related companies, and other similar workforces. It is also used as the main ingredient in oil-based mud drilling fluid. In the United States, most of the consumed diesel fuel is ultra-low-sulfur distillate (ULSD), which is also used as heating oil.
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The distillation process
Diesel fuel is a specific fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil. The distillation process involves heating crude oil to around 400 degrees Celsius to separate its various components, which have different boiling points. This process, called fractional distillation, separates the solution into various parts or fractions, with substances that have higher boiling points condensing at the bottom and lower ones at the top. Diesel oil is low in this distillation process, with a higher boiling point and larger molecules.
Another method for creating diesel fuel is to recombine some of the shorter hydrocarbon chain distillates. Adding these together in specific proportions creates diesel fuel. This process produces a diesel fuel that is ready to have the required additives blended in before being sold.
After distillation, the oil is pumped into an odour-removal tank, where catalysts are used to remove the smell. It then goes into a colour-removal tank for de-colouring with special catalysts. The final product is then transferred into barrels and transported to tank trucks for delivery to pumps.
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History of diesel fuel standardisation
The history of diesel fuel standardisation is closely linked to the evolution of diesel engines and the need for higher-quality fuels. Here is a detailed overview of the history of diesel fuel standardisation:
Early 20th Century:
In the early 20th century, diesel engines were quite diverse in their fuel requirements. The introduction of the Mercedes-Benz OM 138 and other motor-vehicle diesel engines in the 1930s highlighted the need for higher-quality diesel fuel with proper ignition characteristics. However, no immediate improvements were made to motor-vehicle diesel fuel quality during this period.
Post-World War II:
After World War II, the first modern high-quality diesel fuels were standardised internationally. This standardisation process aimed to ensure consistent fuel quality for the evolving diesel engines. Notable standards introduced during this period include the DIN 51601, VTL 9140-001, and NATO F 54 standards. These standards defined key properties of diesel fuel, such as cetane number, density, flash point, and sulphur content.
1993:
In 1993, the DIN 51601 standard was replaced by the EN 590 standard in the European Union. This new standard raised the bar for diesel fuel quality and has been consistently used within the EU since its implementation.
21st Century:
In the 21st century, the standardisation of diesel fuel continued to evolve. Ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD) became prominent, significantly reducing the sulfur content in diesel fuel. By 2016, ULSD was the predominant type of diesel fuel in the United Kingdom, mainland Europe, and North America. Additionally, alternative diesel fuels that are not derived from petroleum, such as biodiesel, biomass-to-liquid (BTL), and gas-to-liquid (GTL) diesel, gained traction. These alternatives contribute to the diversity of diesel fuel sources and are increasingly being adopted.
Today, diesel fuel standardisation remains a dynamic process, with ongoing advancements in fuel technology and emissions regulations driving the development of new standards and specifications.
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Diesel fuel alternatives
Diesel fuel, also known as diesel oil, heavy oil, or simply diesel, is a liquid fuel designed for use in diesel engines. While the most common type of diesel fuel is a specific fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil, several alternatives that are not derived from petroleum are available and increasingly being developed and adopted.
One such alternative is biodiesel, which is derived from biological sources such as vegetable oil, recycled cooking oil, or animal fats. Biodiesel can be used in its pure form or blended with petroleum diesel. Another option is renewable diesel, which is a biomass-derived fuel produced from fats, oils, and greases through various technological pathways, including hydrotreating, biological sugar upgrading, and catalytic conversion of sugars. Renewable diesel meets the conventional petroleum ASTM D975 specification, allowing it to be used in existing infrastructure and diesel engines, and it has been found to reduce carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions compared to petroleum diesel.
Other alternatives to diesel fuel include propane, a widely used gaseous fuel, and natural gas, which can have significant cost advantages over gasoline and diesel fuels. Hydrogen is another potential alternative that can be produced from renewable resources and used in fuel cell electric vehicles. Additionally, sustainable aviation fuel, derived from renewable feedstocks, enables a reduction in life cycle carbon dioxide emissions compared to conventional fuels.
It is worth noting that some older diesel engines may be easier to convert to run on alternative fuels, such as vegetable oil or waste motor oil, than newer engines with tighter clearances in the fuel systems. However, using alternative fuels in newer engines may void warranties and could potentially cause damage if not done properly.
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Testing and quality control
Diesel fuel quality testing is an essential process that helps detect issues before they arise, ensuring safety, reliability, and efficiency. The quality of diesel fuel must be tested to meet required specifications, especially when transported through shared pipelines where mixing with other petroleum products may occur. Here is an overview of the testing and quality control processes for diesel fuel:
Testing Methods
Diesel fuel quality testing involves various methods to assess its reliability, performance, and safety. One common test is the measurement of the cetane number, which indicates the speed and efficiency of combustion. A higher cetane number corresponds to better ignition quality, resulting in improved engine performance. The cetane number is calculated using a specialised engine that compares test results with reference fuel values.
Another critical aspect of diesel fuel testing is assessing stability and contamination levels. Oxidative stability testing, for example, involves exposing a fuel sample to an accelerated stability scenario and measuring the formation of sludge and varnish. This test helps determine the fuel's resistance to degradation over time.
Visual inspections can also be conducted to identify sediment buildup, which includes the presence of dirt, dust, sand, and similar particles. While visual inspections can detect extreme buildup, more detailed tests are necessary to evaluate performance quality.
Specialised laboratories employ advanced techniques such as chromatography, spectroscopy, and filtration to analyse fuel quality, adhering to ASTM and ISO standards. These laboratories cater to various industries and support quality control, research, and troubleshooting for diesel fuel.
Quality Control Standards
The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) has established the D975 specifications, which include 13 standardised tests with acceptable limits. These tests encompass fuel properties such as oxidative stability, distillation, aromaticity, and cetane number. Regular testing, ideally annually, ensures that contaminants or other variables have not compromised the fuel.
The ASTM D975 standards also address sulfur content, which is regulated to protect the environment and meet the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) requirements. The EPA has set a maximum sulfur content limit of 15 parts per million (ppm) for diesel fuel, helping to safeguard ecosystems and public safety.
Density is another critical property of diesel fuel, although it is not directly defined in the ASTM standard. Instead, it is influenced by other factors such as distillation and aromaticity. Volatility, or the boiling range, impacts the fuel's viscosity, flash point, and density. Fuel refineries adjust the distillation ranges by modifying the proportions of low and high-temperature components.
In conclusion, diesel fuel quality testing and quality control are vital to ensure the reliability, performance, and safety of diesel engines. By adhering to standardised testing methods and maintaining fuel quality, users can maximise efficiency, minimise consumption, and protect equipment from damage caused by poor-quality fuel.
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Frequently asked questions
Diesel fuel is a liquid fuel used in diesel engines, which are a type of internal combustion engine. Diesel fuel is most commonly derived from petroleum, but can also be made from biomass materials.
Diesel fuel is a fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil. During the refining process, viscous dark thick crude oil is heated and turned into the much lighter diesel fuel. The distillation process extracts shorter hydrocarbon chains as temperatures rise. The shortest chains emerge at the top as a vaporous gas, which is siphoned off into a diesel holding tank.
Alternatives to diesel derived from petroleum include biodiesel, biomass-to-liquid (BTL), and gas-to-liquid (GTL) diesel. These alternatives are not derived from petroleum and are increasingly being developed and adopted.
