Katerina Swanson
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. The most common type of diesel fuel is derived from petroleum, specifically distillate fuel oil, and is produced in large quantities by oil refineries. However, alternative sources such as biodiesel, biomass-to-liquid (BTL), and gas-to-liquid (GTL) diesel are also being developed and adopted. The production process involves refining crude oil to create a lighter fuel with a mixture of hydrocarbons, which is then distilled to separate the different chain lengths, and finally blended with additives to create the final product.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common Name | Diesel oil |
| Other Names | Heavy oil, biodiesel, petrodiesel, ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) |
| Source | Petroleum, biomass, crude oil |
| Type | Liquid fuel |
| Engine Type | Diesel engine, a type of internal combustion engine |
| Ignition | Compression of inlet air and fuel injection |
| Additives | Required |
| Standard | EN 590 (European Union) |
| Production Process | Distillation, odor and colour removal |
| Purity | 85% |
| Usage | Motor vehicles, freight trucks, trains, boats, generators, aircraft |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Diesel fuel is refined from crude oil
Diesel fuel, also known as diesel oil, heavy oil, or simply diesel, is a liquid fuel designed for use in diesel engines. These engines are a type of internal combustion engine in which fuel ignition occurs without a spark due to the compression of inlet air and the subsequent injection of fuel. Diesel fuel is most commonly derived from petroleum, specifically from crude oil.
The process of refining crude oil into diesel fuel involves distillation, which separates the various components of the oil based on their boiling points. The distillation process extracts shorter hydrocarbon chains as the temperature rises in the distillation tower. The vapor collects on the distillation plates and is siphoned off into a diesel holding tank when it reaches temperatures between 200 and 350 degrees Celsius. The shortest hydrocarbon chains emerge at the top of the tower as vaporous gas.
Another method of creating diesel fuel is by recombining these shorter hydrocarbon chain distillates in specific proportions. This process results in a diesel fuel that is ready for additives to be blended in before being sold. The distillation process is crucial in removing unwanted characteristics such as odor and color, resulting in a pure diesel fuel product.
Diesel fuel is a high-volume product of oil refineries, particularly in the United States, where petroleum refineries produce an average of 11 to 12 gallons of diesel fuel from each 42-gallon barrel of crude oil. The diesel fuel produced is often standardized to meet specific requirements, such as the EN 590 standard used in the European Union.
While petroleum-derived diesel, sometimes called petrodiesel, is the most common, alternative types of diesel fuel that are not derived from petroleum are also available. These include biodiesel, biomass-to-liquid (BTL), and gas-to-liquid (GTL) diesel, which are becoming increasingly prevalent.
Diesel Fuel Costs in Paris: A Traveler's Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Diesel fuel is made from biomass materials
Diesel fuel, also called diesel oil, heavy oil, or simply diesel, is a liquid fuel specifically designed for use in a diesel engine. While the most common type of diesel fuel is a specific fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil, alternatives that are not derived from petroleum, such as biodiesel, biomass-to-liquid (BTL), or gas-to-liquid (GTL) diesel, are becoming increasingly common.
The process of converting biomass into ethanol is called fermentation, where microorganisms (e.g., bacteria and yeast) metabolize plant sugars and produce ethanol. Ethanol can be made from various plant materials, collectively known as "biomass," and is a renewable fuel used as a blending agent with gasoline to increase octane and reduce carbon monoxide and other smog-causing emissions. The most common blend of ethanol is E10 (10% ethanol, 90% gasoline), which is approved for use in most conventional gasoline-powered vehicles.
Biomass-based renewable hydrocarbon fuels are nearly identical to the petroleum-based fuels they replace and are compatible with today's engines, pumps, and infrastructure. These fuels are produced through a variety of biological and thermochemical processes, such as high-temperature or low-temperature deconstruction of the plant cell wall, gasification, pyrolysis, and hydrogenation.
The use of diesel fuel made from biomass materials offers several advantages, including reduced emissions compared to regular diesel and the use of renewable resources that do not displace land currently used for food production.
Diesel vs. Gasoline: Which Fuel Packs More Power?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$108.99
The distillation process
Diesel fuel is a distillate fuel oil refined from crude oil and biomass materials. The distillation process involves heating waste oil to over 170°C to produce distillation gas, which is then cooled to form pure distillation oil. This process is carried out in a distillation reactor, with the oil being pumped in using an oil pump. The distillation oil is then pumped into an odour-removal tank, where catalysts are used to remove the smell. After this, the oil is sent to a colour-removal tank to be de-coloured using special catalysts. The final product is about 85% pure diesel oil.
Diesel fuel is a mixture of hydrocarbons with boiling points ranging from 150 to 380°C. The crude oil used in the distillation process contains three major classes of hydrocarbons: paraffinic, naphthenic (or cycloparaffinic), and aromatic hydrocarbons. The distillation process separates these hydrocarbons into their respective groups, with the shortest chains being the most volatile and having the lowest boiling points.
Overall, the distillation process plays a crucial role in the production of diesel fuel, helping to transform waste oil into a usable and relatively pure fuel source.
The Combustion of Diesel: How Does it Work?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$84.96
Diesel fuel standards
Diesel fuel, also known as diesel oil, heavy oil, or simply diesel, is a liquid fuel designed for use in a diesel engine. Diesel fuel is typically a fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil, but alternative sources such as biodiesel, biomass-to-liquid (BTL), or gas-to-liquid (GTL) diesel are becoming more common.
- International Standards: The global standard for sulfur content in diesel fuel is 5000 parts per million (ppm) or 0.50 percent, as specified in MARPOL Annex VI. This standard accommodates the global distribution and supply of distillate diesel fuel for marine use.
- United States Standards: In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates diesel fuel standards. Before EPA intervention, diesel fuel contained up to 5000 ppm of sulfur. Since 2006, the EPA has phased in stricter regulations, reducing the sulfur content in diesel fuel to 15 ppm, known as ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD). This applies to both on-road and non-road diesel fuel, with the exception of some older locomotive and marine engines. The EPA's diesel standards have significantly reduced harmful emissions from diesel sources.
- European Union Standards: In the European Union, the standard for diesel fuel is EN 590, which was introduced in 1993 and has been in use ever since.
- California Standards: The California Diesel Fuel program has set stringent standards for diesel fuel specifications, including aromatic hydrocarbons, sulfur content, and lubricity. These standards have resulted in cost-effective emission reductions from diesel-powered vehicles.
The distillation process plays a crucial role in diesel fuel production, separating hydrocarbon chains of varying lengths. Diesel fuel emerges at temperatures between 200 and 350 degrees Celsius, and the distillation plates collect the vapor, which is then siphoned into a diesel holding tank. Additives are blended into the diesel fuel before it is ready for commercial sale.
Bypassing Ford Diesel Fuel Pump Relay: DIY Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Diesel fuel quality testing
Diesel fuel, also known as diesel oil, is a liquid fuel designed for use in diesel engines. Diesel fuel is typically standardised to meet certain specifications, such as the EN 590 standard used in the European Union.
To ensure that diesel fuel meets the required standards and is fit for use, various tests can be conducted as part of diesel fuel quality testing. One of the primary concerns during testing is to check for contamination. Diesel fuel can be contaminated by water, which can lead to bacterial growth and the formation of sludge that can plug fuel filters. The presence of water can be detected using a simple test kit that contains a mustard yellow paste that turns red upon contact with water. Another type of contamination is the mixing of diesel with gasoline or other fuels. This can be identified through a specific gravity test and a spectral exam, which can detect the presence of any elements other than boron in the diesel fuel.
Other tests are also employed to assess the quality of diesel fuel. The insolubles test, for example, checks for the presence of solid debris in the fuel. Additionally, the flashpoint test determines the flashpoint of the diesel fuel, which can be affected by the addition of gas.
Diesel Fuel: Calories and Energy Explained
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Diesel fuel is a liquid fuel designed for use in a diesel engine, which is a type of internal combustion engine.
Diesel fuel is made by refining crude oil. The refining process turns viscous, dark, thick crude oil into much lighter diesel fuel. Diesel fuel is a mixture of hydrocarbons with boiling points between 150 and 380°C.
The process of refining crude oil into diesel fuel involves heating waste oil to over 170°C to produce distillation gas, which is then cooled to create pure distillation oil. This distillation oil is then pumped into an odour-removal tank and a colour-removal tank to create a product that is about 85% pure diesel oil.
The most common source of diesel fuel is petroleum, specifically a fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil. However, alternative sources that are not derived from petroleum, such as biodiesel, biomass-to-liquid (BTL), and gas-to-liquid (GTL) diesel, are becoming increasingly common.
