Katerina Swanson
Diesel fuel is a high-energy-density fuel that powers many heat engines, including cars, trucks, generators, boats, barges, and construction equipment. It is a mixture of hydrocarbons derived primarily from the fractional distillation of petroleum but can also be produced from biomass. Diesel engines differ from gasoline engines in their ignition process, compressing the fuel to achieve ignition without the need for spark plugs. The energy density of diesel fuel, along with its ability to enable higher compression ratios, contributes to the overall efficiency of diesel engines. The use of diesel fuel in various sectors, such as transportation and construction, makes it a significant contributor to energy consumption and electricity generation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common colloquial names | Diesel, white diesel, DERV, distillate, gas oil, Solar, petrodiesel |
| Common sources | Petroleum, crude oil |
| Common uses | Cars, trucks, trains, boats, barges, public buses, school buses, generators, military equipment, construction equipment, farming equipment, mining equipment |
| Energy density | 36.9 MJ/litre |
| CO2 emissions | 73.25 g/MJ |
| Sulphur content | Ultra-low-sulphur diesel (ULSD) has 15 parts per million or less |
| Standard | EN 590 |
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What You'll Learn
Diesel fuel sources
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. Diesel fuel sources vary, but the most common source is petroleum. Diesel fuel is a fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil. It 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 is called "straight-run" diesel, but it usually does not provide enough supply or quality. Thus, other sources of diesel fuel are blended in, such as heavier fractions that are converted using visbreaking and coking.
In the past, diesel engines typically ran on cheap fuel oils, such as shale oil in Scotland and France, and coal-tar creosote oil in Europe. In the United States, diesel fuel is primarily refined from crude oil at petroleum refineries, producing 11 to 12 gallons of diesel fuel from each 42-gallon barrel of crude oil. However, diesel fuel can also be derived from non-petroleum sources, such as biodiesel, biomass to liquid (BTL), or gas to liquid (GTL) diesel. These alternative sources are becoming increasingly popular.
Biodiesel is one of the earliest forms of diesel fuel, with Rudolf Diesel originally considering vegetable seed oil as a fuel for his engine. This idea contributed to the production and use of biodiesel today. Biodiesel and biomass-based diesel fuels are also produced and consumed in the United States. In 2022, U.S. refineries produced about 1.75 billion barrels (73.46 billion gallons) of ultra-low sulfur distillate (ULSD), a type of diesel fuel with a low sulfur content.
Other sources of diesel fuel include biomass, animal fat, biogas, natural gas, and coal liquefaction. Diesel fuel is a high-volume product of oil refineries and is standardised in many countries. For example, in the European Union, the standard for diesel fuel is EN 590, which defines the density and CO2 emissions of diesel fuel. Diesel fuel has a higher volumetric energy density than gasoline, containing about 15% more energy by volume. This results in a higher overall efficiency of the diesel engine compared to a petrol engine.
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Diesel engines
Diesel fuel is a high-energy-density fuel that powers several heat engines, including diesel engines in cars, trucks, trains, boats, barges, and diesel generators. It is a mixture of hydrocarbons, with the average composition being C12H23. Diesel engines are internal combustion engines that function by pressurising and heating air using a piston. The fuel is then atomised, turning it into a gas, and the temperature is raised until the fuel ignites. This process occurs without the need for spark plugs, distinguishing diesel engines from gasoline engines. Instead, diesel engines achieve ignition through fuel compression and a glow plug when the engine is cold.
The most common type of diesel fuel is a fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil, also known as petrodiesel. It is produced through fractional distillation, where crude oil is boiled, and its components are separated. Diesel fuel has a higher volumetric energy density than gasoline (petrol), with about 15% more energy by volume. This translates to approximately 36.9 MJ/litre for diesel compared to 33.7 MJ/litre for petrol. As a result, diesel engines have an overall efficiency that is about 20% greater than petrol engines, even though diesel engines are typically heavier.
In addition to petrodiesel, alternative types of diesel fuel are also available, such as biodiesel, biomass-to-liquid (BTL), and gas-to-liquid (GTL) diesel. These alternatives are not derived from petroleum and are becoming increasingly adopted. For example, in the United States, biodiesel and biomass-based diesel fuels are produced and consumed. Diesel fuel produced from crude oil typically contains high quantities of sulfur, which contributes to air pollution and has negative impacts on human health. To address this issue, regulatory bodies like the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have implemented requirements to reduce the sulfur content in diesel fuel. As a result, ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD) has become the standard in many regions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, mainland Europe, and North America.
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Diesel fuel production
Diesel fuel, also known as diesel, white diesel, DERV, distillate, and gas oil, is a distillate fraction of crude oil. It is a complex compound of hydrocarbon molecules, which generally boil within the temperature range of 150°C to 380°C. The production of diesel fuel involves distillation, conversion steps, and clean-up.
Firstly, diesel fuel is derived from the distillation of crude oil. Different hydrocarbon chain lengths have progressively higher boiling points, so they can be separated by fractional distillation. The distillates heavier than kerosene derived by atmospheric distillation of crude oil are the gasoil streams, which are the main blending components for diesel fuel production. Additional types of gasoil can be derived from cracking processes. Gasoils from hydrocrackers have good ignition quality properties, while those from thermal and catalytic cracking have poor ignition quality properties.
Secondly, the distilled diesel fuel undergoes various conversion steps. The refinery streams are blended, mostly coming from the primary distillation unit. However, in a conversion refinery, components from other units, like cracking processes, are used to increase diesel fuel production. The quality and quantity of the streams drawn off are determined by their boiling range and the crude oil used.
Lastly, the diesel fuel is cleaned up. Diesel fuel contains more non-volatile components than gasoline, so it must be sprayed and cannot be evaporated in the air without risking pre-ignition. It is mixed with several additives to adjust performance characteristics. These additives help to keep the injector nozzle clean and prevent gelling in cold weather.
Diesel fuel is primarily produced from petroleum, with most diesel fuel consumed in the United States being refined from crude oil at petroleum refineries. However, alternative sources of diesel fuel that are not derived from petroleum, such as biodiesel, biomass-to-liquid (BTL), and gas-to-liquid (GTL) diesel, are increasingly being developed and adopted. For example, Rudolf Diesel, the German scientist who invented the diesel engine, originally considered using vegetable seed oil, which contributed to biodiesel production and use today.
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Diesel energy density
Diesel fuel is denser than petrol and contains about 15% more energy by volume. The density of EN 590 diesel fuel is 0.820 to 0.845 kg/L at 15 °C, about 9.0-13.9% more than EN 228 gasoline (petrol). This means that diesel has a higher volumetric energy density than gasoline. Volumetric energy density is how much energy a system contains in comparison to its volume. It is typically expressed in watt-hours per liter (Wh/L) or Megajoules per liter (MJ/L).
The energy density of diesel fuel relates to the amount of energy that can be stored in a given system or substance. The higher the energy density of the fuel, the more energy can be stored or transported for the same amount of volume. This is why diesel fuel is used as it is a high-volume product of oil refineries.
Diesel fuel is a fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil, and 1 kg of diesel fuel burns with the oxygen contained in approximately 15 kg of air. Diesel fuel is produced from various sources, the most common being petroleum. Most of the diesel fuel produced and consumed in the United States is refined from crude oil at petroleum refineries. U.S. petroleum refineries produce an average of 11 to 12 gallons of diesel fuel from each 42-gallon barrel of crude oil.
The energy density of diesel fuel is important as it allows for the storage and transport of chemical energy at a large scale. This makes diesel fuel a useful energy source for a variety of systems, including vehicles.
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Diesel fuel consumption
The consumption of diesel fuel varies depending on the application and the size of the engine or generator. For example, in the context of tractors, specific volumetric fuel consumption (SVFC) is used to compare the energy efficiencies of tractors with different engine sizes and operating conditions. The SVFC for diesel engines typically ranges from 0.0476 to 0.1110 gal/hp-h. There are also standard equations, such as the ASABE Standards general fuel consumption equations, that can be used to estimate diesel fuel consumption based on engine load and throttle data.
In the case of diesel generators, fuel consumption is based on the generator's operating load. Diesel generators are known for their fuel efficiency, often burning less fuel per kilowatt-hour than gasoline generators, resulting in lower operating costs over extended runtimes. They are commonly used in commercial applications that require heavy loads and continuous operation, such as in the manufacturing or mining industries.
The choice between diesel and alternative fuels, such as gasoline or natural gas, depends on various factors, including cost, reliability, and environmental considerations. Diesel fuel typically has a higher upfront cost due to the robust construction of diesel engines, and regular maintenance is required to prevent issues from contaminants. Additionally, diesel produces more particulate matter and nitrogen oxides, which may require exhaust treatment systems to meet local emissions regulations.
However, diesel fuel has advantages such as a longer shelf life, making it suitable for long-term storage. It also offers a higher volumetric energy density compared to gasoline, with approximately 15% more energy by volume. This higher energy density contributes to the overall efficiency of diesel engines, which can be up to 20% greater than petrol engines.
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Frequently asked questions
Diesel fuel is a specific fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil, commonly used to power heat engines in cars, trucks, and diesel generators.
Diesel is an energy-dense secondary fuel, with a density of 0.820 to 0.845 kg/L at 15 °C, which is about 15% more than gasoline.
Diesel fuel is most commonly made from petroleum, but can also be made from biomass or alternative sources such as biodiesel, biomass-to-liquid (BTL), or gas-to-liquid (GTL).
Diesel fuel is produced through a process called fractional distillation, where crude oil is boiled and its components separated.
Diesel fuel is commonly used for transportation, powering engines in trucks, trains, boats, barges, and public buses. It is also used in construction, farming, and mining equipment, as well as for backup and emergency power supply in hospitals and electric utilities.
