Katerina Swanson
Diesel fuel is a liquid fuel designed for use in diesel engines, which are named after their inventor, Rudolf Diesel. Diesel fuel is derived from crude oil, which is extracted from the ground through wells and offshore rigs. The first functional diesel engine was invented in the late 1890s, with Diesel applying for patents in 1892 and 1893. Diesel fuel was standardised internationally following World War II, and it has since become widely used in the United States in agriculture, transportation, construction, and the military.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Origin | German scientist and inventor Rudolf Diesel |
| Year of Origin | 1892 |
| First Use | 1893 |
| First Functional Model | 1897 |
| First Passenger Vehicle with a Diesel Engine | 1936 |
| Standardised | Post-WWII |
| Current Standard in Europe | Euro 5 |
| Current Standard in the US | Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel (ULSD) |
| Common Uses | Tractors, trains, ships, trucks, cars, generators, military vehicles |
| Additives | Lubricity additives, flow improvers, wax anti-settling additives, metal deactivators, stabilizers, corrosion inhibitors, cetane improvers, detergents |
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What You'll Learn
- Rudolf Diesel invented the diesel engine in 1893
- Diesel fuel is derived from crude oil
- Diesel engines are more efficient than steam-powered engines
- Diesel fuel is widely used in the US in agriculture, transportation, construction, and the military
- Diesel fuel is more stable and less flammable than gasoline
Rudolf Diesel invented the diesel engine in 1893
The diesel engine was designed to work with a diverse range of fuels, from ammonia to whale oil. This flexibility is one reason why diesel engines are still considered to have a long future ahead. Diesel fuel is any liquid fuel specifically designed for use in a diesel engine. It is derived from crude oil, which is extracted from the ground through wells and offshore rigs. The crude oil is sent to refineries, where it is turned into diesel fuel, among other extracts.
The diesel engine was a revolution because it was the first fuel that didn't need to be externally ignited. Instead, the engine design compresses the liquid to extreme pressures to cause ignition. The combustion moves the piston and causes the motor to activate. This design is still used today. The engine was initially used for smaller vehicles like cars and trucks, but it was eventually increased in size to accommodate large loads. Tractors, trains, and ships were using diesel engines within 20 years.
The use of diesel-fueled engines revolutionized the railroad industry. By the 1930s, many trains ran on diesel fuel. German manufacturers highly prized the engine as Diesel was a native German. Automobile manufacturers started making diesel-fueled cars in the 1920s and 1930s. Diesel fuel was standardized internationally following World War II, and it became increasingly pure with additives for performance developed in stages.
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Diesel fuel is derived from crude oil
Diesel fuel, also called diesel oil, heavy oil, or simply diesel, is a liquid fuel used in diesel engines, which are a type of internal combustion engine. Diesel engines are unique in that they do not require fuel to be externally ignited, instead, they compress the liquid to extreme pressures to cause ignition. The diesel engine was invented by Rudolf Diesel around 1892, and the first engine that could use diesel fuel was invented in 1894. Diesel fuel is derived from crude oil, which is extracted from the ground through wells and offshore rigs. The process of turning crude oil into diesel fuel is known as refining or distillation.
Crude oil is a naturally occurring liquid that can be refined into various fuels and other petroleum-based products. The distillation process involves heating the viscous, dark, thick crude oil to over 400 degrees Celsius, turning it into a vapour. This vapour then rises in a fractional distillation tower, where it starts to cool down. As the vapour reaches certain temperature points, the hydrocarbon chains within it return to a liquid state, and these liquids are captured on distillation plates at different levels of the tower. The longest hydrocarbon chains have a boiling point of over 400 degrees Celsius and emerge as asphalt or bitumen at the bottom of the tower. As the vapour rises, shorter hydrocarbon chains begin to liquefy, and fuel oil is produced when the vapour cools down below 370 degrees Celsius. This process continues up the tower, with various distillates emerging as the vapour cools further.
Diesel fuel is a specific fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil, and it is a high-volume product of oil refineries. The distillation process for diesel fuel typically occurs between 200 and 350 degrees Celsius at atmospheric pressure, resulting in a mixture of carbon chains containing between 9 and 20 carbon atoms per molecule. This process can also be used to produce other fuels such as kerosene and gasoline. Diesel fuel can also be created by recombining shorter hydrocarbon chain distillates at specific proportions, and it can be derived from sources other than petroleum, such as biodiesel, biomass-to-liquid (BTL), or gas-to-liquid (GTL) diesel.
The properties of diesel fuel depend on the source of the crude oil used in its production. For example, diesel fuel may contain small amounts of sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen, which are known as heteroatoms. When heteroatoms are bound into molecular structures with carbon and hydrogen, they form non-hydrocarbon compounds such as dibenzothiophene and carbazole. Gasoils derived from hydrocrackers have good ignition quality, while gasoils from thermal and catalytic cracking have poor ignition quality. Diesel fuel has become increasingly pure since its standardisation after World War II, and additives have been developed to improve fuel performance and address issues such as reduced lubricity.
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Diesel engines are more efficient than steam-powered engines
Diesel fuel, also known as diesel oil or heavy oil, is a liquid fuel designed for diesel engines, which are a type of internal combustion engine. German scientist Rudolf Diesel invented the first diesel engine prototype in 1892. Diesel fuel is derived from crude oil, which is extracted from the ground and sent to refineries to be turned into gasoline, diesel, and other extracts.
Another advantage of diesel engines is their versatility in fuel compatibility. Rudolf Diesel's original engine was designed to work with a diverse range of fuels, including ammonia, whale oil, kerosene, petrol, and ligroin. This flexibility in fuel choice gives diesel engines an advantage over steam engines, which typically rely on coal or wood as fuel.
Additionally, diesel engines have a longer lifespan and are more cost-effective to maintain than steam engines. Steam engines have a limited lifespan and are more expensive to repair due to their complex construction and numerous moving parts. Diesel engines, on the other hand, are made of mass-produced, standardized components that are easily interchangeable, making maintenance and repairs more straightforward and affordable.
Diesel engines also offer greater convenience and practicality compared to steam engines. With steam power, there is a need to carry coal, water, and a larger amount of equipment, adding weight and taking up valuable space. Diesel engines, in contrast, only require fuel, making them a more logical choice for vehicles where weight and space are considerations.
While steam power may offer higher torque and pulling power in certain setups, such as with steam pistons, these advantages often come at the cost of added complexity, weight, and reduced space for fuel storage. Therefore, diesel engines are generally considered a more efficient and practical choice for most applications.
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Diesel fuel is widely used in the US in agriculture, transportation, construction, and the military
Diesel fuel is a liquid fuel designed for diesel engines, which are internal combustion engines. The fuel is ignited as a result of the compression of inlet air and then the injection of fuel. Diesel fuel is widely used in the US across various sectors, including agriculture, transportation, construction, and the military.
In the agricultural sector, diesel fuel powers most of the farm equipment and vehicles used in the US. Historically, US farms used a variety of fuels, including gasoline, alcohol, kerosene, and light fuel oils, depending on regional affordability. Today, diesel engines are commonly used in farming due to their performance, efficiency, and safety advantages.
In the transportation sector, diesel engines are prevalent in trucks, trains, boats, and barges, facilitating the transport of goods across the country. Additionally, diesel fuel is commonly used in public and school buses. In 2022, the US transportation sector consumed approximately 2.98 million barrels of distillate fuel (excluding biodiesel and renewable diesel) per day, accounting for about 75% of total US distillate consumption and 15% of total US petroleum consumption.
The construction industry also relies heavily on diesel fuel to power machinery and equipment. Diesel engines are particularly suitable for demanding construction tasks such as lifting steel beams, digging foundations and trenches, drilling wells, paving roads, and moving soil and rocks.
The US military utilizes diesel fuel in tanks and trucks due to its lower flammability and explosivity compared to other fuels. Diesel engines are also less prone to stalling than gasoline-fueled engines. Diesel fuel is further employed in diesel engine generators to provide backup and emergency power supply for various facilities, including industrial sites, large buildings, hospitals, and electric utilities.
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Diesel fuel is more stable and less flammable than gasoline
Diesel fuel was invented by Rudolf Diesel around 1892 for his compression-ignition engine. The diesel engine was designed to work with a diverse range of fuels, and early versions ran on everything from ammonia to whale oil. Before diesel fuel was standardised, diesel engines typically ran on cheap fuel oils.
Diesel fuel is derived from crude oil, which is extracted from the ground through wells and offshore rigs. The crude oil is sent to refineries, where it is turned into gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and other extracts. Diesel fuel is defined as any kind of liquid fuel that can be used in diesel engines.
The flash point of a liquid is the minimum temperature at which it emits sufficient vapours to be ignited at the liquid's surface. Diesel fuel generally has a flash point between 52°C and 93°C, while gasoline ignites at much lower temperatures. Diesel fuels with a flash point below 60°C are classified as flammable liquids, and those with a flash point above 60°C are classified as combustible liquids. The higher flash point of diesel makes it less volatile and safer to handle compared to gasoline, but it still requires precautions as it is a fire hazard.
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Frequently asked questions
Diesel fuel was invented in 1892 by Rudolf Diesel, a German scientist and inventor.
The first prototype was fuelled by crude oil from Pechelbronn, but this was soon replaced by kerosene, petrol, and illuminating gas.
Diesel fuel, also called diesel oil, heavy oil, or simply diesel, is a liquid fuel designed for use in a diesel engine.
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine in which fuel ignition occurs due to the compression of inlet air and the injection of fuel.
Diesel fuel is made from the distillation of crude oil.
