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Diesel fuel, also known as diesel oil, heavy oil, or simply diesel, is a mixture of hydrocarbons derived from the distillation of crude oil. It is specifically designed for use in diesel engines, which are a type of internal combustion engine. The most common type of diesel fuel is a fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil, but alternative sources such as biodiesel, biomass-to-liquid (BTL), and gas-to-liquid (GTL) diesel are also available. Diesel fuel consists primarily of saturated hydrocarbons, including paraffins, and aromatic hydrocarbons, with a typical chemical formula of C12H23. Its viscosity and performance characteristics vary with temperature, and it is regulated differently in different countries.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Diesel fuel is a mixture of hydrocarbons obtained by distillation of crude oil. |
| Composition | Diesel fuel consists mainly of paraffins, aromatics, naphthenes, and olefins. |
| Boiling Point Range | 150°C to 380°C, with specific ranges depending on the type of diesel fuel. |
| Carbon Atom Range | Approximately 12–20 carbon atoms. |
| Energy Density | Contains about 15% more energy by volume than petrol. |
| Efficiency | Diesel engines are about 20% more efficient than petrol engines. |
| Viscosity | Increases as temperature decreases, becoming a gel at very low temperatures. |
| Freezing Point | Varies, but typically around -8.1°C for petrodiesel and 2°C to 15°C for biodiesel. |
| Sulphur Content | Ultra-low sulphur diesel in Europe contains a maximum of 10 ppm sulphur. |
| Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME) Content | May contain up to 7 vol.% FAME in Europe to meet biofuel directives. |
| Alternatives | Biodiesel, Biomass to Liquid (BTL), Gas to Liquid (GTL) diesel, and synthetic diesel. |
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What You'll Learn
Diesel fuel is a mixture of hydrocarbons
The hydrocarbons in diesel fuel typically have carbon numbers predominantly in the range of C9–C20, with boiling points ranging from 150 °C to 380 °C. Some sources state a narrower range of C10H20 to C15H28, while others state a range of 163–357 °C. Diesel fuel consists mainly of paraffins, aromatics, and naphthenes. Paraffinic hydrocarbons, especially normal paraffins, improve the ignition quality of diesel fuel. However, their low-temperature properties tend to be poor. Cycloalkanes, which are a type of naphthene, have higher ignition resistance than straight-chain alkanes, making them suitable for use in diesel fuel.
The specific composition of diesel fuel can vary depending on the type of crude oil used and the refining process. In some cases, additional sources of diesel fuel may be blended in to improve the supply and quality. For example, diesel fuel can be obtained by cracking heavier fractions using visbreaking and coking, which converts less useful fractions into desired hydrocarbons. Synthetic diesel can also be produced from carbonaceous precursors, with natural gas being the most important source. This synthetic diesel is often blended into petroleum-derived diesel.
Diesel fuel is specifically designed for use in diesel engines, which are a type of internal combustion engine. Diesel engines have higher fuel efficiency and lower CO2 emissions compared to spark-ignited petrol engines, making diesel a popular fuel choice for vehicles in Europe. However, diesel exhaust, especially from older engines, can cause health issues, and diesel fuel contains more pollutants that must be extracted during refining.
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Crude oil distillation
Crude oil is a mixture of many different types of hydrocarbon chains. Hydrocarbons are chains of carbon and hydrogen that make up all organic material. Crude oil distillation is the process of refining crude oil into useful products by separating the hydrocarbon chains into similar lengths. This is done in a distillation tower or fractionating column, where the different fractions of hydrocarbons have different densities and forms at different temperatures.
The first step in the distillation process is to heat the crude oil to a temperature of 100-150 °C and mix it with 4-10% fresh water to remove any salt. The oil is then further heated to a temperature of 350-360 °C before being passed into the distillation column. The pressure at the top of the column is maintained at 1.2-1.5 atm, so that the distillation can be carried out at close to atmospheric pressure.
As the crude oil rises in the column, it vaporizes at different temperatures, separating into different fractions. The lightest products, such as butane and other liquid petroleum gases, are recovered at the lowest temperatures. Mid-range products, including jet fuel, kerosene, and distillates such as diesel fuel and home heating oil, are recovered at higher temperatures. The heaviest products, such as residual fuel oil, are recovered at temperatures above 1,000 °F.
The distillates obtained from crude oil distillation are further processed to create a range of petroleum products. For example, diesel fuel is a fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil, but it can also be produced by cracking heavier fractions using processes such as visbreaking and coking. Diesel fuel consists mainly of paraffins, aromatics, and naphthenes, with carbon numbers predominantly in the range of C9–C20 and boiling points in the range of 163–357 °C.
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Diesel fuel types
Diesel fuel is a mixture of hydrocarbons derived from petroleum. The most common type of diesel fuel is a specific fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil, also known as petrodiesel. However, there are also alternative types of diesel fuel that are not derived from petroleum, such as biodiesel, biomass-to-liquid (BTL), and gas-to-liquid (GTL) diesel. These alternative types of diesel fuel are becoming increasingly popular as the world moves towards adopting green energy solutions.
Petrodiesel is composed of about 75% saturated hydrocarbons (primarily paraffins, including n, iso, and cycloparaffins) and 25% aromatic hydrocarbons (including naphthalenes and alkylbenzenes). The average chemical formula for common diesel fuel is C12H23, ranging from approximately C10H20 to C15H28. Diesel fuel typically has a boiling point range of 163–357 °C, although this can vary depending on the specific type of diesel fuel.
One type of petrodiesel is "straight-run" diesel, which is often insufficient in supply and quality. Therefore, other sources of diesel fuels are blended in, such as those obtained by cracking heavier fractions using visbreaking and coking. Synthetic diesel, another type of diesel fuel, can be produced from carbonaceous precursors, with natural gas being the most important. Synthetic diesel is mainly composed of paraffins with low sulfur and aromatics content and is often blended into petroleum-derived diesel.
Diesel fuel grades are classified by cetane number, cloud point, and pour point, which determine the fuel's ignition characteristics and cold-weather performance. Some common diesel fuel grades include Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD), which has better engine performance and improved fuel economy due to its low sulfur content; Dyed Diesel, which is used for off-road purposes and is tax-exempt; Biodiesel, which is made from renewable sources like vegetable oil and can be mixed with any grade of fuel to cut emissions; and Premium Diesel, which is Grade 2-D with additives that promise better fuel economy and smooth engine performance.
The choice of diesel fuel grade depends on various factors such as manufacturer recommendations, engine compatibility, cold weather performance, availability, and environmental regulations. Mixing different diesel fuel grades is generally not recommended as it can cause reduced engine performance and fuel system issues, especially in cold weather. However, mixing #1 and #2 diesel, known as winterized fuel, can be done to prevent gelling in cold temperatures.
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Diesel engines
Diesel fuel, also called diesel oil, heavy oil, or simply diesel, is a liquid fuel specifically designed for use in a diesel engine. Diesel engines are a type of internal combustion engine in which fuel ignition occurs without a spark as a result of the compression of inlet air and the injection of fuel. This is known as a compression-ignited injection system.
Rudolf Diesel, a student at the "Polytechnikum" in Munich, developed the diesel engine in the late 19th century. By June 1893, Diesel realised his original cycle would not work, so he adopted the constant pressure cycle, which he described in his 1895 patent application.
Diesel fuel is a complex mixture derived from crude oil through fractional distillation, consisting mainly of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons. It is composed of about 75% saturated hydrocarbons (primarily paraffins) and 25% aromatic hydrocarbons (including naphthalenes and alkylbenzenes). The average chemical formula for common diesel fuel is C12H23, ranging from C10H20 to C15H28. Diesel fuel contains hydrocarbons with approximately 12–20 carbon atoms and a boiling range between 170 and 360 °C.
Diesel fuel is often used as the main ingredient in oil-based mud drilling fluid due to its low cost and ability to drill through a wide variety of strata. It is also used in heavy trucks, boats, barges, semis, agricultural equipment, construction equipment, and electricity generation plants.
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Diesel fuel properties
Diesel fuel, also known as diesel oil, heavy oil, or simply diesel, is a type of 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, as a result of the compression of inlet air and the injection of fuel. Thus, diesel fuel requires good compression ignition characteristics.
The most common type of diesel fuel is a specific fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil, derived from the distillation of crude oil. However, alternatives that are not derived from petroleum, such as biodiesel, biomass-to-liquid (BTL), or gas-to-liquid (GTL) diesel, are becoming increasingly common. Diesel fuel is a complex mixture, consisting mainly of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons with carbon numbers predominantly in the range of C9–C20. The average chemical formula for common diesel fuel is C12H23, ranging from approximately C10H20 to C15H28.
The properties of diesel fuel can vary depending on the type of crude oil used and the distillation process. Important characteristics of diesel fuel include its cetane number, fuel volatility, density, viscosity, low-temperature operability, and sulfur content. Diesel fuel specifications differ across various fuel grades and countries. For example, since 2009, ultra-low-sulfur diesel in Europe has been limited to 10 ppm of sulfur, while road diesel in the USA may contain up to 15 ppm.
Diesel fuel is classified based on the type of engine it fuels, ranging from 1-D to 4-D. In road transportation, diesel fuels are typically distillate fuels, meaning they do not contain uncracked residuum fractions. Diesel fuel is also used in non-road applications, such as in heavy trucks, watercraft diesel engines, and oil-based mud drilling fluid.
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Frequently asked questions
Diesel fuel, also called diesel oil, heavy oil, or simply diesel, is a liquid fuel specifically designed for use in a diesel engine. It is a fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil, but non-petroleum alternatives such as biodiesel are also available.
Yes, diesel fuel is a mixture of hydrocarbons obtained by distillation of crude oil. Diesel fuel consists of hydrocarbons with carbon numbers predominantly in the range of C9-C20, with the average chemical formula being C12H23.
Hydrocarbons are compounds that contain only carbon and hydrogen. Hydrocarbons are classified into different groups based on their molecular structure. The three major classes of hydrocarbons found in petroleum crude oils are paraffinic, naphthenic (or cycloparaffinic), and aromatic hydrocarbons.
Hydrocarbon-based fuels include gasoline, diesel, natural gas, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). These fuels are commonly used in internal combustion engines.
