Sylvie Willis
Diesel fuel, also known as diesel oil, is a combustible liquid used as fuel for diesel engines. It is derived from crude oil through fractional distillation, consisting mainly of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons with a boiling point range of approximately 163–357 °C. The most common type of diesel fuel is a specific fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil, but alternative sources such as biomass, animal fat, biogas, natural gas, and coal liquefaction are also used. Diesel fuel is classified based on its usage, with grades ranging from light-middle distillates for high-speed engines to heavy distillates for low and medium-speed engines. The performance of diesel fuel is measured by its cetane number, ease of volatilization, and sulfur content.
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Diesel fuel sources
Diesel fuel is produced from various sources, the most common being petroleum. Petroleum diesel is produced by the fractional distillation of crude oil at a temperature ranging from 200 to 350 °C (392 to 662 °F) at atmospheric pressure. This process results in a mixture of carbon chains containing between 9 and 25 carbon atoms per molecule. However, due to insufficient supply and quality issues of "straight-run" diesel, other sources of diesel fuel are often blended in. One major source is obtained by cracking heavier fractions using visbreaking and coking, which converts less useful fractions into the desired product.
In addition to petroleum-derived diesel, alternative sources of diesel fuel are being increasingly developed and adopted. These include biodiesel, biomass-to-liquid (BTL), and gas-to-liquid (GTL) diesel. Biodiesel, a biofuel, can be produced from oily plants such as soybean or oil palm, as well as vegetable seed oil. Biomass-based diesel fuels, such as biodiesel and renewable diesel, are also gaining traction, particularly in the United States, where they contribute to the supply of diesel fuel.
Historically, diesel engines typically ran on cheap fuel oils, which were distilled from petroleum in the United States and from coal-tar creosote oil in Europe. During his initial experiments, Rudolf Diesel, the inventor of the diesel engine, used illuminating gas as fuel and tested various types of lamp oil, petrol, ligroin, paraffin, and crude oil. In Scotland and France, the first 1898 production Diesel engines used shale oil as fuel due to the high cost of other fuels.
The term "white diesel" is used in the United Kingdom to refer to diesel fuel for road use, while "red diesel" is an agricultural-only product with a reduced tax rate and a coloured dye. In Australia, diesel fuel is known as "distillate," while in Indonesia, Israel, and most of the Middle East, it is called "Solar," a trademarked name from Pertamina, the national petroleum company.
Diesel Fuel Breakdown: What You Need to Know
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Diesel engines
Diesel fuel, also known as diesel oil, diesel, or gas oil, is any liquid fuel specifically designed for diesel engines. Diesel 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. This means that diesel fuel requires good compression ignition characteristics.
The most common type of diesel fuel is a specific fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil, which is produced from crude oil through fractional distillation. This process results in a mixture of carbon chains typically containing between 9 and 25 carbon atoms per molecule. However, alternative sources for diesel fuel that are not derived from petroleum, such as biodiesel, biomass-to-liquid (BTL), or gas-to-liquid (GTL) diesel, are increasingly being developed and adopted. These alternative fuels can be blended with traditional diesel or used alone in diesel engines without modification and often have very low sulfur content.
The production of diesel fuel involves distillation, various conversion steps, and a clean-up phase. Diesel fuel contains more non-volatile components than gasoline and has a higher boiling range, typically between 160°C and 371°C. Due to its higher boiling range, diesel fuel must be sprayed and cannot be evaporated in air without risking pre-ignition. Like gasoline, diesel fuel is mixed with additives to adjust performance characteristics, such as keeping the injector nozzle clean and preventing gelling in cold weather.
However, diesel fuel traditionally produces greater quantities of certain air pollutants, such as sulfur and solid carbon particulates. Higher levels of sulfur in diesel fuel have been linked to increased air pollution emissions that are harmful to human health and the environment. As a result, regulations have been implemented to reduce the sulfur content of diesel fuel, with ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD) grades being introduced in various countries.
Can Diesel Fuel Work in a Two-Cycle Engine?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Diesel fuel production
Diesel fuel, also known as diesel oil or simply diesel, is a liquid fuel used in diesel engines, which are internal combustion engines. Diesel fuel is produced from various sources, with the most common being petroleum. Diesel fuel is a distillate fraction of crude oil, which is produced through fractional distillation at a temperature between 200°C and 350°C and at atmospheric pressure. This process results in a mixture of carbon chains containing between 9 and 25 carbon atoms per molecule. The distillates are then blended to form diesel fuel.
The production of diesel fuel involves three main steps: distillation, conversion, and clean-up. Diesel fuel contains more non-volatile components than gasoline and has a higher boiling range, typically between 150°C and 380°C. Due to its high boiling range, diesel fuel must be sprayed into the engine rather than evaporated to prevent pre-ignition. To improve performance, diesel fuel is often mixed with additives. However, this presents two challenges: keeping the injector nozzle clean and preventing gelling in cold weather.
In recent years, there has been a shift towards reducing the sulfur content in diesel fuel due to its harmful impact on human health and the environment. High levels of sulfur in diesel fuel contribute to air pollution and the formation of acid rain. As a result, ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD) has been introduced, which has a significantly lower sulfur content, typically limited to 15 parts per million or less. This has become the standard for diesel fuel used in on-highway vehicles in the United States and other parts of the world.
In addition to petroleum-based diesel, alternative sources of diesel fuel are also being developed and adopted. Biodiesel, for example, is produced from vegetable seed oil, soybean, or oil palm. Synthetic diesel, or Fischer-Tropsch diesel, can be derived from natural gas, synthesis gas from coal, or biogas obtained from biomass. These alternative diesel fuels have lower sulfur content and can be blended with traditional diesel fuel or used on their own in diesel engines.
Is Diesel Fuel a Good Substitute for Furnace Fuel Oil?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Diesel fuel uses
Diesel fuel, also known as diesel oil, heavy oil, or simply diesel, is a liquid fuel used in diesel engines. 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.
Diesel fuel is most commonly derived from petroleum, specifically fractional distillates of petroleum fuel oil. However, alternative sources that are not petroleum-based are becoming more common, such as biodiesel, biomass-to-liquid (BTL), or gas-to-liquid (GTL) diesel. These alternative fuels can be blended with traditional diesel or used on their own in diesel engines without modification. Biodiesel, for example, can be made from oily plants like soybeans or oil palms.
Diesel fuel is widely used in the transportation sector, powering the engines of trucks, trains, boats, and some cars. It is also used in construction and farming equipment, public and school buses, and military vehicles. Diesel engines are known for their better fuel economy compared to gasoline engines, as diesel fuel releases more energy during combustion and requires fewer refining steps.
In addition to transportation, diesel fuel is used in diesel-engine generators to produce electricity, particularly in remote areas such as villages in Alaska, and as a backup power supply for industrial facilities, hospitals, and electric utilities.
The use of diesel fuel varies across different regions. For example, in Australia, diesel fuel is known as "distillate," while in Indonesia, Israel, and most of the Middle East, it is called "Solar," a trademarked name from the national petroleum company Pertamina.
Dyed Diesel Fuel: Safe for Indoor Heating?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Diesel fuel emissions
Diesel fuel releases more energy during combustion than equal volumes of gasoline, resulting in better fuel economy for diesel engines. However, diesel fuel, particularly in its traditional formulation, produces greater quantities of certain air pollutants, such as sulfur and solid carbon particulates. These emissions contribute to air pollution and have adverse effects on both human health and the environment.
Sulfur is a critical polluting component of diesel fuel and has been the focus of regulatory efforts. High-sulfur diesel emissions are implicated in the production of acid rain and can damage advanced emission-control systems. In recognition of these issues, the United States and the European Union have implemented regulations to reduce the allowable sulfur content in diesel fuel. As a result of such regulations, diesel engines today are cleaner than ever before. However, the longevity of diesel engines means that millions of older, dirtier engines are still in use, underscoring the importance of ongoing efforts to reduce diesel emissions.
Diesel exhaust contains a complex mixture of gaseous and solid pollutants, with the solid material known as diesel particulate matter (DPM). Exposure to diesel exhaust has been linked to serious health issues, including asthma, respiratory illnesses, and adverse effects on heart and lung function, particularly in vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly. Additionally, diesel emissions contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone, which damages crops, trees, and other vegetation.
To address the environmental and health impacts of diesel emissions, various strategies have been implemented. The Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) Program was established in 2005 to promote diesel emission reductions through grants and loans. The Clean Diesel Program aims to aggressively reduce diesel engine pollution through control strategies and collaboration with national, state, and local partners. Other approaches include the use of cleaner-burning diesel fuel, retrofitting engines with particle-trapping filters, and the development and implementation of new technologies that reduce particle emissions.
The Mystery of Diesel Vaporization: What Temperature?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Diesel fuel is a combustible liquid used as fuel for diesel engines. It is derived from crude oil through fractional distillation.
Diesel fuel is typically made from petroleum, but can also be made from biomass, animal fat, biogas, natural gas, and coal liquefaction.
Diesel fuel is used for freight and delivery trucks, trains, buses, boats, farm, construction, and military vehicles, and some cars and light trucks. It is also used in diesel-engine generators to generate electricity.
Diesel fuel ignites without a spark, as a result of compression of the inlet air and then injection of fuel. Diesel produces long, powerful strokes - lots of torque, good for pulling and hauling. Gasoline is faster and good for producing lots of work, good for speed and acceleration.
Diesel fuel, at least traditionally, produces greater quantities of certain air pollutants such as sulfur and solid carbon particulates. Diesel exhaust, especially from older engines, can cause health damage.
