Rajan Wilcox
Diesel fuel, also known as diesel oil, is a liquid fuel designed for use in diesel engines. In the UK, diesel fuel for road use is commonly called diesel or white diesel. It is derived from the fractional distillation of crude oil between 200 and 350 °C, resulting in a mixture of carbon chains containing 9 to 25 carbon atoms per molecule. Diesel fuel is widely used in trucks, buses, and other vehicles, as well as in electricity generation and marine craft. This article will explore the specific contents and characteristics of diesel fuel in the UK, including its environmental and health impacts.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common colloquial names | Diesel, white diesel, DERV, gas oil, biodiesel, distillate, petroleum diesel, diesel oil, heavy oil |
| Standard diesel in the UK | B7, contains up to 7% biodiesel |
| Newer diesel type | B10, contains up to 10% biodiesel, not yet available in the UK |
| Synthetic diesel alternative | XTL, designed to reduce emissions and provide cleaner combustion |
| Grades | Summer and winter |
| Sulphur content | Ultra-low |
| Viscosity requirement | 40 °C |
| Health hazards | Exposure to diesel can occur through inhalation, ingestion, skin or eye contact. It can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, digestive tract damage, loss of muscle control, heart and lung problems, and pneumonitis. |
| Use | Fuel for road vehicles, ships, trains, electricity generators, cleaning solvent for tanks, engines, and refinery equipment |
| Taxation | Red diesel is used for agricultural vehicles, home heating tanks, refrigeration units, and marine craft, and is taxed at a lower rate than on-road fuel. |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Diesel fuel types: B7, B10, XTL, and DERV
Diesel fuel, also known historically as heavy oil, is any liquid fuel designed for use in a diesel engine. This is a type of internal combustion engine where fuel ignition occurs without a spark, as a result of the compression of inlet air and the injection of fuel.
Diesel fuel contains a mixture of carbon chains, typically with between 9 and 25 carbon atoms per molecule. Petroleum diesel is the most common type, derived from the fractional distillation of crude oil. However, alternative types of diesel fuel that are not derived from petroleum are being increasingly developed and adopted. These include biodiesel, biomass-to-liquid (BTL), and gas-to-liquid (GTL) diesel.
B7 and B10 Diesel Fuel
B7 diesel fuel, also known as general diesel, can be used in all diesel vehicles. It typically contains close to 7% biodiesel (FAME content). B10 diesel fuel, on the other hand, contains 10% biodiesel and 90% fossil diesel. B10 is available in France and has been found to be compatible with certain vehicles, particularly older ones.
XTL Diesel Fuel
XTL, or X-to-Liquid, is an alternative diesel fuel created by converting any source material into a liquid energy carrier. The two main methods for this synthetic manufacturing process are the Fischer-Tropsch process and the use of hydrotreated vegetable oils (HVO). XTL diesel has been found to burn cleaner than biodiesel or mineral oil diesel and is more resistant to aging.
DERV Diesel Fuel
DERV, an abbreviation for Diesel Engine Road Vehicle, is a type of diesel fuel used to power road vehicles and equipment with diesel engines. It is also known as white diesel or road diesel and is a popular choice across many industries. DERV has similar properties to gas oil (red diesel) but differs in tax rates.
Red Dyed Fuel: Safe for Diesel Trucks?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Sulphur content: maximum 10ppm
Sulphur is a naturally occurring element that is found in crude oil. Petroleum diesel, which is the most common type of diesel fuel, is produced by the fractional distillation of crude oil. This fraction is then treated with a process called hydrodesulfurization to remove sulphur.
Since 2011, it has been a legal requirement for off-road fuel in mobile machinery in the UK to comply with the EU's ULSD regulations, meaning that the fuel can contain no more than 10 parts per million (ppm) of sulphur. This regulation ensures that diesel fuel is ultra-low in sulphur content, limiting the emission of sulphur-containing pollutants from engine exhaust fumes.
Grade A2 Gas Oil, which is used for diesel fuel in off-road engines and machinery, is also low in sulphur content, with a maximum of 10 ppm. This grade of gas oil makes up the majority of red diesel supplied across the UK and meets the European diesel fuel standard EN 590.
It is important to note that while modern diesel engines are designed with the EN 590 standard in mind, there may be instances where a lower cetane number or FAME-free content is required. In such cases, A2 Gas Oil can be blended to meet these specific requirements.
Overall, the regulation of sulphur content in diesel fuel is essential to reduce the environmental and health impacts associated with sulphur-containing pollutants.
The Greenest Diesel: Who's Leading the Pack?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Health effects: adverse health effects from exposure
Diesel exhaust is a mixture of gases and fine particles (called diesel particulate matter, or DPM) produced during the combustion of diesel fuel. The organic carbon in DPM includes polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), which have been shown to cause cancer in animal studies.
Occupations with potential exposure to diesel exhaust include miners, construction workers, heavy equipment operators, bridge and tunnel workers, railroad workers, oil and gas workers, loading dock workers, truck drivers, material handling operators, farmworkers, longshoremen, and auto, truck, and bus maintenance garage workers.
Acute health effects of diesel exhaust exposure include irritation of the nose and eyes, lung function changes, respiratory changes, headache, fatigue, and nausea. Chronic exposures are associated with cough, sputum production, and further lung function impairment. In addition, exposure studies in healthy humans have documented profound inflammatory changes in the airways, even before changes in pulmonary function can be detected.
There is also evidence to support the hypothesis that diesel exhaust is a contributing factor to the allergy pandemic. For example, diesel exhaust particles can act as adjuvants to allergens in many experimental systems, increasing the sensitization response. However, much of the research on the adverse effects of diesel exhaust has been conducted in animals, and it is unclear whether these findings can be extrapolated to humans. Therefore, further studies are needed to assess the acute and chronic effects of diesel exhaust exposure in humans, with careful consideration of exposure levels.
Trump's Impact: Diesel DEF Fuel's Future
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Colloquial names: diesel oil, heavy oil, gas oil, distillate
Colloquially, diesel fuel is referred to by several names, including diesel oil, heavy oil (historically), gas oil, and distillate. In the United Kingdom, diesel fuel intended for road use is commonly called "diesel" or sometimes "white diesel" to differentiate it from a reduced-tax agricultural product known as "red diesel". Red diesel is dyed red for identification, and using it for regular road use can result in fines.
The official term for white diesel is DERV, an acronym for "diesel-engine road vehicle". DERV is the most common form of diesel available at forecourts and petrol stations across the UK. It is also known as "road diesel" and is widely used in cars, vans, trucks, trains, and HGVs. DERV has two grades: summer and winter. Winter grade diesel contains additives to improve performance in colder temperatures, preventing the fuel from "waxing" (the formation of paraffin crystals).
In the context of heating applications and agricultural machinery, the British Standard (BS) 2869 specification outlines four grades of fuel: Grade A2 Gas Oil, Grade D Gas Oil, Grade C1 Kerosene, and Grade C2 Kerosene. Grade A2 Gas Oil, a low-sulphur content fuel, constitutes the majority of red diesel supplied in the UK. This fuel is also known as EN 590 gas oil, a standard that exceeds the BS 2869 requirements.
In Australia, diesel fuel is also referred to as "distillate", while in Indonesia, Israel, and most of the Middle East, it is known by the trademarked name "Solar", derived from the country's national petroleum company, Pertamina.
Preventing Diesel Gelling: Keeping Your Engine Running Smoothly
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Uses: road vehicles, ships, trains, electricity generators
Diesel fuel is a liquid fuel used in diesel engines, which are a type of internal combustion engine. Diesel engines can run on a wide variety of fuels, including natural gas, alcohols, gasoline, wood gas, and diesel. However, diesel fuel is specifically designed for use in diesel engines, providing the necessary lubrication and good compression ignition characteristics.
Road Vehicles
Diesel fuel is commonly used in road vehicles, particularly trucks and buses, which have almost exclusively used diesel engines since the 1950s. Passenger cars with diesel engines are more common in Europe and India, where diesel fuel is often lower-taxed than petrol. Diesel fuel is well-suited for road vehicles because it remains liquid even in cold winter temperatures and has better engine efficiency than petrol.
Ships
Ships typically use marine bunker oil, which is cheaper than diesel fuel, but must be heated before use as it is not liquid at room temperature. However, due to the high levels of sulfur in bunker oil, many harbours do not allow its use, and ships must switch to cleaner-burning fuels like diesel as they approach port. Diesel fuel is also used for auxiliary power on large ships, providing energy for lights, fans, switches, and supplementing the propulsion system.
Trains
Diesel fuel is widely used in trains, particularly for freight transport. Diesel-powered trains have higher fuel consumption than electric trains, but diesel engines are more durable and better suited for constant heavy use.
Electricity Generators
Diesel generators are used in many applications, particularly as a backup or emergency power supply for industrial facilities, large buildings, hospitals, and electric utilities. They are also used as the primary source of electricity in remote areas. Diesel generators have the highest thermal efficiency of any internal combustion engine and can be quickly turned on and off without lag time, making them useful for offsetting peaking power needs on the grid. However, they produce carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and particulate matter, which substantially reduce air quality.
Why Diesel Fuel Treatment is Essential
You may want to see also
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, but alternatives that are not derived from petroleum, such as biodiesel, biomass-to-liquid (BTL), or gas-to-liquid (GTL) diesel, are becoming more common.
Diesel fuel contains a mixture of carbon chains that typically contain between 9 and 25 carbon atoms per molecule. Diesel fuel also contains additives to modify its viscosity, such as kerosene, and to prevent carbon buildup in engines.
DERV, or diesel-engine road vehicle, is the official term for white diesel, which is used in cars, vans, trucks, trains, and HGVs in the UK. It is a distillate of crude oil and is the most prevalent type of diesel fuel in the UK.
