Regan Brown
Diesel engines are internal combustion engines that are commonly found in motor vehicles such as cars, trucks, and buses. While diesel engines are typically associated with diesel fuel, they can also run on a variety of other fuels. The type of fuel used depends on the engine's specifications and intended use. Using the wrong type of fuel can cause significant damage to diesel engines. This article will explore the different types of fuel that can power diesel engines and the advantages and disadvantages of each option.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common type of diesel fuel | Specific fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil |
| Alternative types of diesel fuel | Biodiesel, biomass to liquid (BTL), gas to liquid (GTL) diesel |
| Biodiesel made from | Vegetable oils, animal fats, rapeseed, palm oil, any oil-rich crop |
| Biodiesel mixed with | Additional chemicals to run well in engines |
| Biodiesel issues | Does not store well, does not yield as much power, has higher viscosity |
| Biodiesel benefits | Renewable, more environmentally friendly, almost no carbon emissions |
| Diesel engine designed to run on | Any fuel that will burn |
| Diesel engines mostly run on | Oil-based fuel |
| Diesel engines commonly found in | Trucks, buses, trains, military vehicles, tractors, heavy equipment |
| Diesel engines not suited for | Planes, helicopters |
| Diesel fuel viscosity | Specified at 40 °C |
| Diesel fuel in cold climates | Becomes gel-like and cannot flow |
| Diesel fuel benefits | More fuel-efficient, denser, less volatile, slower burning, increased energy density, better lubrication, less prone to catching fire |
| Wrong fuel in diesel engine | Likely to break down or stop running |
| Wrong fuel in diesel engine precautions | Do not drive, call a tow truck, turn off the vehicle, drain the contaminated fuel system |
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What You'll Learn
Vegetable oil
Rudolf Diesel, the inventor of the diesel engine, originally designed it to run on peanut oil. Most diesel car engines are suitable for the use of straight vegetable oil (SVO), also commonly called pure plant oil (PPO), with certain modifications. The viscosity and surface tension of the SVO/PPO must be reduced by preheating it, typically by using waste heat from the engine or electricity. Otherwise, poor atomization, incomplete combustion, and carbonization may result. One common solution is to add a heat exchanger and an additional fuel tank for the petrodiesel or biodiesel blend and to switch between this additional tank and the main tank of SVO/PPO. The engine is started on diesel, switched over to vegetable oil as soon as it is warmed up, and switched back to diesel shortly before being shut off to ensure that no vegetable oil remains in the engine or fuel lines.
In colder climates, it is often necessary to heat the vegetable oil fuel lines and tank as it can become very viscous and even solidify. Single-tank conversions were developed largely in Germany and are now used throughout Europe. These conversions are designed to provide reliable operation with rapeseed oil that meets the German rapeseed oil fuel standard DIN 51605. Modifications to the engine's cold start regime assist combustion on start up and during the engine warm-up phase. Suitably modified indirect injection (IDI) engines have proven to be operable with 100% PPO down to temperatures of −10 °C (14 °F). Direct injection (DI) engines generally have to be preheated with a block heater or diesel-fired heater.
Another solution is a two-tank system that uses petroleum diesel to start and shut down the engine. This heats up the engine on start-up and flushes the veggie oil out of the engine before shut-off. The veggie oil in the other tank is heated, since warmer vegetable oil can be atomized more effectively. In fact, vegetable oil is often solid at room temperature, so it needs to be heated to work at all. To effectively use vegetable oil as fuel, some significant engine modifications are required. That includes first installing some new fuel injector nozzles with extensive filtering systems to make sure only clean fuel gets into the combustion chamber. Those who use dirty cooking oil from restaurants must run the oil through several filters before they can pour it into their gas tank. Any fine, durable fabric can be used as a filter to keep out bits and pieces of food or other contaminants that could clog fuel lines.
Cosolvent blending is a low-cost and easy-to-adapt technology that reduces viscosity by diluting the vegetable oil with a low-molecular-weight solvent. This blending, or "cutting", has been done with diesel fuel, kerosene, and gasoline, among others; however, opinions vary as to the efficacy of this. Noted problems include higher rates of wear and failure in fuel pumps and piston rings when using blends. When liquid fuels made from biomass are used for energy purposes other than transport, they are called bioliquids or biofuels. With often minimal modification, most residential furnaces and boilers that are designed to burn No. 2 heating oil can be made to burn either biodiesel or filtered, preheated waste vegetable oil (WVO).
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Biodiesel
The modern form of biodiesel emerged in the 1930s when a method was found to transform vegetable oils for fuel use. Biodiesel is a generic term for diesel fuel made from natural sources that do not include any oil-based components. It is made by combining alcohol with vegetable oil. The US National Biodiesel Board defines "biodiesel" as a mono-alkyl ester.
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Hydrogen
A hydrogen internal combustion engine vehicle (HICEV) burns hydrogen fuel, which does not produce CO2 when burnt, making it a greener fuel source than diesel. Hydrogen has a higher calorific value, flame speed, and diffusivity in air, which can improve the performance and combustion characteristics of diesel engines.
However, hydrogen-fueled diesel engines suffer from knocking combustion and higher nitrogen oxide emissions. To address this, researchers have developed a Hydrogen-Diesel Direct Injection Dual-Fuel System that allows diesel engines to run on 90% hydrogen fuel. This system involves adding a hydrogen fuel injection directly into the cylinder, which helps control the mixture of hydrogen and air, reducing harmful nitrogen oxide emissions.
While hydrogen has the potential to significantly reduce carbon emissions, it is not without its challenges. Hydrogen engines typically have lower power output compared to similarly-sized gasoline engines. To compensate for this, hydrogen engines are usually larger or equipped with turbochargers or superchargers. Additionally, hydrogen is stored in high-pressure tanks, requiring regular maintenance and safe handling procedures.
Despite these challenges, companies like Cummins Inc. are actively developing hydrogen internal combustion engines, demonstrating the growing interest and potential for hydrogen as a fuel source for diesel engines.
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Heavy fuel oils
Heavy fuel oil (HFO) is a category of fuel oils with a tar-like consistency. It is also known as bunker fuel or residual fuel oil. HFO is the remnant from the distillation and cracking process of petroleum. For this reason, HFO contains several different compounds, including aromatics, sulfur, and nitrogen, which make emissions upon combustion more polluting compared to other fuel oils.
HFO is predominantly used as a fuel source for marine vessel propulsion using marine diesel engines due to its relatively low cost compared to cleaner fuel sources. The combustion of HFO in ship engines results in the highest amount of black carbon emissions compared to all other fuels. The use and carriage of HFO on board vessels present several environmental concerns, namely the risk of oil spill and the emission of toxic compounds and particulates, including black carbon. As a result, the use of HFOs is banned as a fuel source for ships travelling in the Antarctic as part of the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) International Code for Ships Operating in Polar Waters (Polar Code).
In addition to its use in marine vessels, HFO is also used in large ships for raising steam, which then drives the ship through turbines. This fuel is used like any industrial fuel in furnaces. The most important quality is consistency in the viscosity, and it is necessary that standardization on a worldwide scale makes refuelling with the same grade possible at any port.
HFO is also used in power plants, particularly in the boiler "lighting up" facility in many coal-fired power plants. This use is approximately analogous to using kindling to start a fire. The chief drawback to HFO is its high initial viscosity, which requires a correctly engineered system for storage and pumping.
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Petroleum
Diesel fuel, also known as diesel oil, heavy oil, or simply diesel, is a liquid fuel designed for use in diesel engines. Diesel engines are a type of internal combustion engine where fuel ignition occurs without a spark due to the compression of inlet air and subsequent fuel injection. Diesel fuel, therefore, requires good compression ignition characteristics.
The most common type of diesel fuel is a specific fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil, known as petrodiesel in academic circles. Petroleum-based diesel fuel has been standardized in many countries, such as the European Union's EN 590 standard. Before standardization, diesel engines typically ran on cheaper fuel oils, with some engines even fuelled by mixtures of petrol, kerosene, rapeseed oil, or lubricating oil.
Kerosene, another petroleum-based fuel, has been considered a cheaper alternative to diesel fuel due to its lower price point and smoother performance in freezing temperatures. However, using kerosene in diesel engines comes with risks, including reduced engine power and potential damage to the injector pump due to its harsher nature and lack of lubrication. Before using kerosene, it is crucial to check the engine's warranty, as using unapproved fuels may void it.
In summary, while diesel engines are primarily designed to run on middle distillate petroleum fuel, there are various alternatives available, including biodiesel and kerosene. However, it is important to carefully consider the risks and ensure that any alternative fuel is approved for use in the specific engine to avoid potential issues and warranty violations.
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Frequently asked questions
A diesel engine can run on middle distillate petroleum fuel, heavier diesel fuel, biodiesel, peanut oil, vegetable oil, animal fats, rapeseed oil, palm oil, and even used cooking oil.
Biodiesel is a generic term for diesel fuel made from natural sources that don't include any oil-based components. It can be mixed with regular diesel fuel or used on its own.
Biodiesel is a renewable and more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional diesel fuel. It is free of sulfur and many petroleum byproducts, making it a cleaner-burning fuel with almost no carbon emissions.
There are different grades of diesel fuel, such as 4D, 2D, and 1D, which vary in viscosity and pour point. 4D diesel is ideal for stationary equipment, while 2D and 1D are better for vehicles operating at high speeds and long distances.
Putting the wrong fuel in a diesel engine, such as gasoline, can cause significant damage. If you realize the mistake before starting the engine, there may not be major issues. However, driving with the wrong fuel can wreak havoc on the fuel system, and you may need to tow the vehicle to a repair shop.
