Rajan Wilcox
Diesel fuel, also known as diesel oil, heavy oil, or simply diesel, is a liquid fuel designed for diesel engines, which are internal combustion engines that use compression to ignite the fuel without a spark. Diesel fuel is commonly used in oil and gas extraction equipment, tractors, heavy equipment, and diesel-engine generators. It is produced by the fractional distillation of crude oil, resulting in a mixture of carbon chains containing 9 to 25 carbon atoms per molecule. This process makes diesel fuel a distillate fuel, which is a general classification for petroleum fractions produced in conventional distillation operations. Distillate fuels include diesel oils and fuel oils, with specific products like No. 1, No. 2, and No. 4 diesel fuel used in on-highway and off-highway diesel engines.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Diesel fuel is any liquid fuel designed for use in a diesel engine, a type of internal combustion engine. |
| Origin | Diesel fuel originated from experiments conducted by German scientist and inventor Rudolf Diesel for his compression-ignition engine, which he invented around 1892. |
| Production | Petroleum diesel is the most common type of diesel fuel. It is produced by the fractional distillation of crude oil between 200 and 350 °C at atmospheric pressure. |
| Usage | Diesel fuel is commonly used in oil and gas extraction equipment, tractors, heavy equipment, freight and delivery trucks, trains, buses, boats, and military vehicles. |
| Alternatives | Alternatives to petroleum-derived diesel include biodiesel, biomass-to-liquid (BTL), and gas-to-liquid (GTL) diesel. |
| Distillate Fuel | Distillate fuel is a general classification of petroleum fractions produced in conventional distillation operations. It includes diesel fuels and fuel oils. |
| Distillate Usage | Distillate fuels are used in automobiles, locomotives, agricultural machinery, space heaters, and power generators. |
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What You'll Learn
Diesel fuel is a distillate fuel oil
The term "distillate" refers to a wide range of petroleum fractions produced in conventional distillation operations. Distillate fuel is a liquid fuel that is usually distilled from crude petroleum. It includes diesel fuels and fuel oils, and is used in internal-combustion vehicles, such as automobiles, locomotives, and agricultural machinery.
In the United States, diesel fuel is primarily refined from crude oil at petroleum refineries. On average, 11 to 12 gallons of diesel fuel are produced from each 42-gallon barrel of crude oil. Before 2006, diesel fuel in the US contained high amounts of sulfur, which contributes to air pollution. However, following requirements issued by the US Environmental Protection Agency, the sulfur content in diesel fuel has been reduced.
Diesel fuel has a variety of uses and is commonly employed in oil and gas extraction equipment, as well as in diesel-engine generators for electricity production. It is also used in high-speed diesel engines, such as those found in city buses, trucks, automobiles, and similar vehicles.
In summary, diesel fuel is a distillate fuel oil that plays a significant role in powering various vehicles and machinery, and its production and usage are important aspects of the energy industry.
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Diesel engines historically ran on cheap fuel oils
Diesel engines have historically been able to run on cheap fuel oils, even before diesel fuel was standardised. In the United States, these cheap fuel oils were distilled from petroleum, while in Europe, coal-tar creosote oil was used. Diesel engines were fuelled with mixtures of fuels, such as petrol, kerosene, rapeseed oil, or lubricating oil. These mixtures were cheaper because they were not being taxed.
The first diesel engine was built in 1893, and its first ignition used petrol as fuel. In 1898, the first production diesel engines in Scotland and France ran on shale oil, as other fuels were too expensive. In 1900, the French Otto society built a diesel engine that ran on crude oil, but it was exhibited using peanut oil instead, with no modifications necessary.
In the early and mid-20th century, distillate fuel, also called tractor fuel, was commonly used to power North American agricultural tractors. Distillate fuel was a petroleum product that was chemically similar to kerosene but impure. It was also less expensive than gasoline in farming regions, either because it was a less-refined product or because it was taxed at a lower rate or not at all.
In the 1920s and 1930s, numerous series-production aircraft diesel engines that ran on fuel oils were made. This was because they had low fuel consumption, were reliable, not prone to catching fire, and required minimal maintenance. The introduction of motor-vehicle diesel engines in the 1930s meant that higher-quality fuels with proper ignition characteristics were needed. After World War II, the first modern high-quality diesel fuels were standardised.
Today, diesel fuel is commonly used in trucks and cars, while fuel oil is used in large ships. This is because the emission regulations and fuel economy of diesel work better for trucks and cars, while the cheaper cost of fuel oil works better for large ships that consume enormous amounts of fuel.
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Distillate fuel is a general classification of petroleum fractions
The distillation process separates crude oil into different, more useful hydrocarbon products based on their relative molecular weights in a distillation tower. This process is known as fractional distillation and is considered the main separation process in the initial refining of crude oil.
The different components separated during fractional distillation are known as fractions, and these include gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and bitumen. These fractions have different properties, such as boiling points and volatility. For example, light distillate has a boiling point range of 70-200°C and includes products like gasoline, naphtha, kerosene, jet fuel, and paraffin. Medium distillate has a boiling point range of 200-350°C and includes diesel fuel and gas oil. Heavy distillate has a boiling point above 350°C and includes fuel oil, which has larger molecules, low volatility, and poor flow characteristics.
Distillate fuel specifically refers to a type of petroleum product commonly used in the early to mid-20th century to power North American agricultural tractors. This fuel was chemically similar to kerosene but impure and less refined. It had a heavier molecular weight than gasoline but was lighter than kerosene or No. 1 fuel oil. With the advent of cheaper and higher-grade gasoline and diesel fuels, distillate fuel was withdrawn from the market.
Today, the term "distillate" is often used to describe the lighter fractions of diesel and fuel oil, with "No. 1 distillate" and "No. 2 distillate" referring to the lighter fractions of both products, although there are differences between the fuel oil and diesel fuel fractions. These distillates are used in high-speed diesel engines, such as those found in city buses, railroad locomotives, trucks, and automobiles.
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Diesel fuel is refined from crude oil and biomass
Diesel fuel, also known as distillate fuel oil, is a distillate of petroleum fuel oil. It is commonly used in motor vehicles that use compression-ignition engines, which were invented by Rudolf Diesel in 1892. Diesel fuel is produced by the fractional distillation of crude oil between 200 and 350 °C at atmospheric pressure, resulting in a mixture of carbon chains. This process involves separating small molecules with low boiling points, such as those found in propane, naphtha, gasoline, and kerosene, from heavier oils with higher boiling points. The heavier oils are then further refined to produce diesel fuel.
In addition to crude oil, diesel fuel can also be refined from biomass materials. Biomass-based diesel fuels are produced by blending biomass with petroleum fuels. This process creates a mixture of gasoline, jet fuel, heating oil, and diesel fuel. The use of biomass-based diesel fuels has become increasingly common, especially in the United States, where they are produced and consumed.
The specific distillation process and fuel sources used to produce diesel fuel can vary. For example, diesel fuel can be obtained by cracking heavier fractions using visbreaking and coking, or through hydrocracking. Additionally, alternative sources of diesel fuel that are not derived from petroleum, such as biodiesel, biomass-to-liquid (BTL), or gas-to-liquid (GTL) diesel, are being developed and adopted. These alternatives provide a broader range of fuel sources for diesel engines, reducing reliance solely on petroleum-based products.
The characteristics of crude oil play a crucial role in determining how refineries process it. Lighter crude oils with higher API gravity tend to have more light hydrocarbons, while heavier crude oils require additional processing to produce high-value products like diesel fuel. The sulfur content of crude oil is also important, as high sulfur levels can negatively impact both the processing and product quality. Therefore, additional refining steps may be necessary to remove sulfur from the diesel fuel, which can increase costs.
Diesel fuel has undergone significant changes over the years to meet emission standards and environmental concerns. For example, diesel fuel previously contained high quantities of sulfur, which contributed to air pollution and posed health risks. However, emission standards and taxation regulations have driven refineries to reduce sulfur levels in diesel fuel, leading to the development of ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD). ULSD has substantially lowered sulfur content, improving air quality and reducing the environmental impact of diesel fuel usage.
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Diesel fuel is used in high-speed diesel engines
Diesel fuel is a liquid fuel designed for use in diesel engines, which are a type of internal combustion engine. Diesel engines are named after the German engineer Rudolf Diesel, who first tested them in the late 1890s.
Diesel engines are distinct from other engines as they do not use a high-voltage electrical ignition system. Instead, they rely on the compression of air to a sufficiently high temperature to ignite the fuel injected into the cylinder. This is why diesel engines are also known as compression-ignition engines. The absence of a high-voltage electrical ignition system eliminates a source of radio frequency emissions, which can interfere with navigation and communication equipment. This is why, in some parts of the American National Radio Quiet Zone, only diesel-powered vehicles are permitted.
The most common type of diesel fuel is a specific fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil. However, alternative types of diesel fuel that are not derived from petroleum, such as biodiesel, biomass-to-liquid (BTL), or gas-to-liquid (GTL) diesel, are also available.
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Frequently asked questions
Diesel fuel, also called diesel oil, heavy oil, or simply diesel, is any liquid fuel designed for use in a diesel engine. The most common type of diesel fuel is a specific fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil. Diesel fuel is commonly used in oil and gas extraction equipment, tractors, trucks, trains, buses, boats, and some cars.
Distillate fuel is a general classification for one of the petroleum fractions produced in conventional distillation operations. It is a liquid fuel usually distilled from crude petroleum. Distillate fuel includes diesel fuels and fuel oils. It is used in internal-combustion vehicles, such as automobiles, locomotives, and agricultural machinery.
Yes, diesel is a distillate fuel. Diesel fuel is a specific fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil. It is produced by the fractional distillation of crude oil between 200 and 350 °C at atmospheric pressure.
