Ameer Randolph
Diesel fuel, also known as diesel oil, is a liquid fuel designed for diesel engines. It is the second-most-consumed petroleum product in the United States, where it is primarily refined from crude oil at petroleum refineries. Diesel fuel is produced from various sources, with petroleum being the most common. In this process, refineries produce an average of 11 to 12 gallons of diesel fuel from each 42-gallon barrel of crude oil. This type of diesel fuel, known as ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD), has substantially lowered sulfur content, reducing air pollution emissions that are harmful to human health.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Common Name | Diesel |
| Official Name | DERV (Diesel-engine road vehicle) |
| Origin | Experiments conducted by Rudolf Diesel for his compression-ignition engine in 1892 |
| First Prototype Fuel | Vegetable seed oil |
| Other Fuels Tested | Coal tar creosote, paraffin oil, crude oil, gasoline, fuel oil, shale oil, illuminating gas |
| First Functional Fuel | Peanut oil |
| Most Common Type | Fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil |
| Alternative Types | Biodiesel, biomass to liquid (BTL), gas to liquid (GTL) diesel |
| Standard | EN 590 (European Union) |
| Refinement | Refined from crude oil and biomass materials |
| Refinement Ratio | 11-12 gallons of diesel fuel from 42 gallons of crude oil |
| Use | Used in diesel engines, boilers for steam engines, and electricity generators |
| Vehicles Using Diesel Engines | Freight and delivery trucks, trains, buses, boats, farm, construction, and military vehicles, some cars and light trucks |
| Colloquial Names | White diesel, distillate, gas oil, bunker C, petrodiesel |
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What You'll Learn
Diesel fuel is refined from crude oil
Diesel fuel, also known as diesel oil, is a liquid fuel designed for diesel engines, which are a type of internal combustion engine. Diesel fuel is produced from various sources, the most common being petroleum. In many countries, diesel fuel is standardized. For example, in the European Union, the standard for diesel fuel is EN 590.
The most common type of diesel fuel is a specific fractional distillate of petroleum fuel 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. These alternatives are important as diesel exhaust, especially from older engines, can cause health damage. To distinguish between these types, petroleum-derived diesel is sometimes called petrodiesel.
Diesel fuel sold for road use is often differentiated from agricultural-only products, such as in the United Kingdom, where road diesel is called "white diesel". In the United States, most diesel fuel 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.
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Crude oil contains hundreds of different types of hydrocarbons
Crude oil is a mixture of hydrocarbons that is found in liquid form in natural underground reservoirs. It remains liquid at atmospheric pressure after passing through surface separating facilities. Crude oil is a complex mixture with varying compositions and can also include small amounts of gaseous hydrocarbons, non-hydrocarbons, and liquid hydrocarbons derived from tar sands, oil sands, gilsonite, and oil shale.
There are several hundred different types of crude oil, but they all contain hydrocarbons. The exact molecular composition of crude oil varies widely from formation to formation, but the proportion of chemical elements varies over fairly narrow limits. The relative percentage of each hydrocarbon type in crude oil varies, determining the properties of each oil. The alkanes from pentane (C5H12) to octane (C8H12) are refined into gasoline, while those from nonane (C9H20) to hexadecane (C16H34) are refined into diesel fuel, kerosene, and jet fuel. Alkanes with more than 16 carbon atoms can be refined into fuel oil and lubricating oil.
The first category of hydrocarbon molecules found in crude oils is paraffinic, or alkane series, hydrocarbons. These hydrocarbons are composed of only hydrogen and carbon atoms attached by single bonds. The second category is naphthenic (or saturated cyclic) hydrocarbons. The third category is aromatic (or cyclic) hydrocarbons. These hydrocarbons are composed of hydrogen and carbon atoms that form cyclic structures but contain double bonds between alternating carbon atoms. The simplest aromatic hydrocarbon is benzene, with a single-ring structure, while more complex aromatic hydrocarbons typically have multi-ring structures. The last category of hydrocarbon molecules found in crude oils is asphaltene hydrocarbons. These hydrocarbons are large, high-molecular-weight molecules that may also contain atoms other than hydrogen and carbon, such as sulfur, oxygen, or nitrogen.
The lighter fractions of crude oil are destroyed first, resulting in reservoirs containing an extremely heavy form of crude oil, called crude bitumen in Canada or extra-heavy crude oil in Venezuela. These two countries have the world's largest deposits of oil sands. Oil shales, on the other hand, are source rocks that have not been exposed to sufficient heat or pressure to convert their trapped hydrocarbons into crude oil.
Diesel fuel, also called diesel oil, heavy oil, or simply diesel, is a liquid fuel specifically designed for use in diesel engines. The most common type of diesel fuel is a specific fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil. However, alternatives 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. Diesel fuel has many colloquial names and is used in heavy construction equipment, trucks, buses, tractors, boats, trains, some automobiles, and electricity generators.
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Diesel fuel is used in diesel engines
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 due to the compression of inlet air and subsequent fuel injection, without requiring a spark. Diesel fuel is typically a fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil, although non-petroleum-based alternatives like biodiesel, biomass-to-liquid (BTL), and gas-to-liquid (GTL) diesel are becoming more common.
Diesel engines are used in a variety of applications, including transportation, construction, agriculture, and military equipment. They are commonly found in trucks, automobiles, construction equipment, farming vehicles, trains, boats, and some electricity generators. Diesel fuel offers advantages such as a wide range of performance, efficiency, and safety features. It is less flammable and explosive than other fuels, making it a preferred choice for certain applications.
The first diesel engines were designed by Rudolf Diesel around 1892, and he experimented with various types of fuel, including illuminating gas, vegetable oil, and liquid fuels. Initially, diesel engines typically ran on cheap fuel oils, which were distilled from petroleum in the United States and derived from coal-tar creosote oil in Europe. However, with the introduction of motor-vehicle diesel engines in the 1930s, higher-quality fuels with improved ignition characteristics became necessary. After World War II, modern high-quality diesel fuels were standardised, leading to the development of grades such as DIN 51601, VTL 9140-001, and NATO F 54.
Today, diesel fuel is standardised in many countries, with specific regulations for sulfur content and emissions standards. For example, the European Union adopted the EN 590 standard in 1993, and regulations in the United States require diesel fuels sold for highway vehicles to have ultra-low sulfur content, known as ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD). These regulations help reduce emissions of sulfur compounds responsible for acid rain and enable the use of advanced emission-control systems in diesel vehicles.
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Diesel fuel is also used in non-diesel engines
Diesel fuel, also known as diesel oil, heavy oil, or simply diesel, is a 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. Rudolf Diesel's initial experiments with his compression-ignition engine in the 1890s involved testing various fuels, including coal tar creosote, paraffin oil, crude oil, gasoline, and fuel oil.
Despite being designed for diesel engines, diesel fuel can also power several non-diesel engines, such as the Akroyd engine, the Stirling engine, and boilers for steam engines. Additionally, diesel is commonly used in heavy trucks and watercraft diesel engines, where it is known as Bunker C or heavy fuel oil. However, it's important to note that diesel exhaust, especially from older engines, can cause health issues.
The versatility of diesel fuel extends beyond its use in engines. In the past, diesel engines in the United States military were multi-fuel engines capable of running on various flammable substances, including gasoline and jet fuel. This adaptability underscores the flexibility of diesel fuel in non-civilian applications.
While diesel fuel has found applications in non-diesel engines, it is essential to recognize the inherent differences between diesel and gasoline engines. Diesel engines employ compression ignition and lack spark plugs, whereas gasoline engines have a lower compression ratio and utilize spark plugs. Consequently, using the wrong fuel type in each engine can lead to significant issues and even damage.
In summary, while diesel fuel is primarily designed for diesel engines, it has been adapted for use in specific non-diesel engines and applications. However, the distinct characteristics of diesel and gasoline engines must be carefully considered to avoid potential problems and ensure the safe and efficient operation of the respective engines.
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Diesel fuel is a distillate fuel oil
Diesel fuel, also known as diesel oil, heavy oil, or simply diesel, is a liquid fuel designed for use in diesel engines. These are internal combustion engines that use compression to ignite the fuel without a spark. Diesel fuel is a distillate fuel oil, with the most common type being a specific fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil.
Distillate fuel oil, including diesel fuel and heating oil, is the second-most-consumed petroleum product in the United States. Diesel fuel is widely used in heavy construction equipment, trucks, buses, tractors, boats, trains, some automobiles, and electricity generators.
The term "distillate" refers to the lighter fractions of diesel and fuel oil. There are different types of distillate fuel oils, such as No. 1 and No. 2 distillate, which have distinct characteristics. No. 1 distillate, or No. 1 fuel oil, is a light distillate fuel oil with distillation temperatures of 400 degrees Fahrenheit at the 10-percent recovery point and 550 degrees Fahrenheit at the 90-percent point. It is commonly used in portable outdoor stoves and heaters.
No. 2 distillate, on the other hand, is a petroleum distillate that can be used as either a diesel fuel or a fuel oil. No. 2 diesel fuel has a higher distillation temperature of 640 degrees Fahrenheit at the 90-percent recovery point. This type of diesel fuel is used in high-speed diesel engines, such as those found in railroad locomotives, trucks, and automobiles.
While diesel fuel is predominantly derived from petroleum, alternative sources are being developed, such as biodiesel, biomass-to-liquid (BTL), and gas-to-liquid (GTL) diesel. These alternatives offer options that are not derived from petroleum, providing diversity in the sources of diesel fuel.
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Frequently asked questions
Diesel fuel is made from oil, but the percentage varies depending on the source of the crude oil and the refining process. Crude oil contains various types of hydrocarbons, and the composition of diesel fuel depends on the specific hydrocarbons selected and refined during the production process.
Diesel fuel, also known as diesel oil, is made from refined crude oil or biomass materials. Rudolf Diesel, the inventor of the diesel engine, initially experimented with various fuels, including vegetable seed oil, which contributed to the development of biodiesel.
Biodiesel is a type of diesel fuel that is not derived from petroleum but rather from alternative sources such as biomass-to-liquid (BTL) or gas-to-liquid (GTL) processes.
ULSD is a type of diesel fuel with a significantly reduced sulfur content. As of 2016, most petroleum-based diesel fuel available in regions like North America, Europe, and the United Kingdom is of the ULSD type. This change was implemented to reduce air pollution and its harmful effects on human health.
Diesel and petrol are both derived from mineral oil, but their refining methods differ. Diesel has a higher energy content per litre and offers higher fuel efficiency and lower CO2 emissions compared to petrol. However, diesel exhaust, especially from older engines, can be detrimental to health.
