Sylvie Willis
Diesel fuel, also known as diesel oil, is a liquid fuel designed for diesel engines, which are a type of internal combustion engine. Diesel engines do not require external ignition, as the heat of compressed air in the cylinder ignites the fuel. Diesel fuel is derived from crude oil, which is extracted from the ground and sent to refineries to be turned into gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and other extracts. Diesel fuel is used in a variety of vehicles, including cars, trucks, tractors, trains, and ships. It is also used in boilers for steam engines and some non-diesel engines. The use of diesel fuel has spread across the commercial and industrial sectors, with the fuel being transported to consumers by pipelines, ships, trains, and trucks.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What is diesel fuel | A combustible liquid used as fuel for diesel engines |
| How is it obtained | Ordinarily obtained from fractions of crude oil that are less volatile than the fractions used in gasoline |
| How does it work | Fuel is ignited not by a spark, but by the heat of air compressed in the cylinder, with the fuel injected in a spray into the hot compressed air |
| Who uses it | Used for smaller vehicles like cars and trucks, and also for tractors, trains, and ships |
| Where does it come from | Crude oil, which is extracted from the ground through wells and offshore rigs |
| How is it transported | By pipeline from refineries and ports to terminals near major consuming areas. Barges, trains, and trucks are also used |
| Where is it used | In many countries, diesel fuel is standardized. For example, in the European Union, the standard for diesel fuel is EN 590 |
| What are its characteristics | Diesel fuel releases more energy on combustion than equal volumes of gasoline, so diesel engines generally produce better fuel economy. However, it produces greater quantities of certain air pollutants such as sulfur and solid carbon particulates |
| What are its alternatives | Synthetic diesel, Fischer-Tropsch diesel, biodiesel, biomass to liquid (BTL) diesel, and gas to liquid (GTL) diesel |
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What You'll Learn
- Diesel fuel is used in vehicles like cars, trucks, tractors, trains and ships
- It is also used in boilers for steam engines
- In the US, diesel fuel is mostly produced by petroleum refineries
- Diesel fuel is transported to consumers by pipeline, ships, trains and trucks
- Diesel fuel is derived from crude oil
Diesel fuel is used in vehicles like cars, trucks, tractors, trains and ships
Diesel fuel is a combustible liquid used as fuel for diesel engines. 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 gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and other extracts. Diesel fuel releases more energy during combustion than equal volumes of gasoline, resulting in better fuel efficiency for diesel engines.
Diesel fuel is used in a variety of vehicles, including cars, trucks, tractors, trains, and ships. The diesel engine design compresses the liquid to extreme pressures, causing it to ignite without the need for external ignition. This design allows for smaller vehicles like cars and trucks, as well as larger vehicles such as tractors, trains, and ships.
In terms of distribution, diesel fuel is transported from refineries and ports to terminals near major consuming areas via pipelines, barges, and trains. Trucks then deliver the fuel from these terminals to retail service stations and large-volume consumers, such as vehicle fleet operators.
Diesel fuel has different grades, including "light-middle" and "middle" distillates for high-speed engines with frequent variations in load and speed, commonly found in trucks and automobiles. "Heavy" distillates are used in low- and medium-speed engines with sustained loads and speeds, such as those in trains, ships, and stationary engines.
The use of diesel fuel has evolved over time, with Rudolf Diesel designing the first engine capable of using this byproduct, revolutionizing the commercial and industrial sectors. Initially, various fuels such as crude oil, petrol, lamp oil, and kerosene were tested, but diesel fuel's unique characteristics, such as high compression ignition properties and better fuel economy, led to its widespread adoption.
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It is also used in boilers for steam 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 that compresses inlet air and then injects fuel, causing ignition without the need for an external spark. This unique characteristic of diesel engines and diesel fuel was first discovered by Rudolf Diesel in the late 1890s.
While diesel fuel is primarily associated with diesel engines, it can also be used in non-diesel engines, such as the Akroyd engine, the Stirling engine, and boilers for steam engines.
Using diesel fuel in boilers for steam engines is not a common practice, but it is possible. Steam locomotives can theoretically burn almost any type of fuel, and there have been instances where diesel fuel was used as a substitute when fuel oil was unavailable. For example, the SP 4449 locomotive once used diesel in its boiler when they didn't have fuel oil, but it was not a practical solution due to the continuous need to clear the fire tubes by throwing sand through them.
Additionally, some steamers have been converted to burn fuel oil, which has similar properties to diesel, as it offers economic savings, burns cleaner, and reduces the risk of wildfires along the track by eliminating embers from the firebox. However, burning diesel directly in steam engines is generally considered overkill, as less-refined fuels can also be used.
Despite the feasibility of using diesel fuel in boilers for steam engines, it is important to consider the design of the boiler and the firebox layout. The efficiency of a steam engine burning diesel may be relatively low, and the geometry of the boiler may need to be modified to accommodate this fuel type. Nevertheless, with tightening environmental regulations, diesel fuel may become a more attractive option for steam locomotives in the future as it tends to burn cleaner than heavy oil.
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In the US, diesel fuel is mostly produced by petroleum refineries
Diesel fuel, also known as diesel oil, is a liquid fuel designed for use in diesel engines, which are a type of internal combustion engine. Diesel fuel is a distillate of petroleum fuel oil, although alternative, non-petroleum-based fuels such as biodiesel, biomass-to-liquid (BTL), and gas-to-liquid (GTL) diesel are becoming more common.
In the United States, most of the diesel fuel consumed is produced by petroleum refineries. Diesel fuel is a high-volume product of oil refineries, and in the US, it is the second-most-consumed petroleum product, after gasoline. In 2022, US refineries produced about 1.75 billion barrels (73.46 billion gallons) of ultra-low-sulfur distillate (ULSD), a type of diesel fuel with a sulfur content of 15 parts per million or less. ULSD is used as diesel fuel and heating oil, and it is the most common type of diesel fuel in the United States, as well as in the United Kingdom, mainland Europe, and North America.
The process of refining crude oil into diesel fuel involves distillation. Crude oil is heated, and the vapors are captured and condensed into a new liquid. This process can produce high-value products such as gasoline, diesel fuel, and jet fuel from light crude oil with simple distillation. However, denser crude oils require additional processing to produce high-value products.
Once produced, diesel fuel is transported from refineries and ports to terminals near major consuming areas via pipelines, barges, and trains. From the terminals, trucks distribute the diesel fuel to retail service stations and large-volume consumers such as vehicle fleet operators.
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Diesel fuel is transported to consumers by pipeline, ships, trains and trucks
Diesel fuel is used in diesel engines, which are found in trucks, trains, ships, and tractors. It is also used in construction, farming, and mining equipment, as well as by the military. Diesel fuel is a liquid fuel designed for use in diesel engines, which are a type of internal combustion engine.
Diesel fuel is transported to consumers by a variety of methods, including pipelines, ships, trains, and trucks. Most diesel fuel moves by pipeline from refineries and ports to terminals near major consuming areas. These pipelines are shared with other petroleum products, and the diesel fuel is often sent in batches, which may lead to some mixing or commingling with other products. Therefore, the quality of the diesel fuel must be tested to ensure it meets the required specifications as it enters and leaves the pipelines.
Barges, trains, and trucks then distribute the diesel fuel from the terminals to retail service stations and large-volume consumers, such as vehicle fleet operators. Trucks are essential for transporting diesel fuel over roads to reach retail service stations and consumers. Trains are also important for transporting diesel fuel over long distances, especially in areas where pipelines may not be feasible.
In addition to pipelines, ships are used to transport diesel fuel, particularly for international trade and to reach areas inaccessible by other modes of transport. This combination of transportation methods ensures that diesel fuel can reach consumers across diverse geographic regions.
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Diesel fuel is derived from crude oil
Diesel fuel, also called diesel oil, is a liquid fuel designed for use in a diesel engine. Rudolf Diesel designed the first engine capable of using diesel fuel, which was initially a byproduct of crude oil with no use. Diesel fuel is derived from crude oil, which is a naturally occurring liquid that can be refined into various fuels and other petroleum-based products. Crude oil is extracted from the ground through wells and offshore rigs and sent to refineries to be turned into gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and other extracts.
The process of refining crude oil involves heating the viscous liquid to over 400 degrees Celsius, turning it into a vapour. This vapour then enters a fractional distillation tower, where it cools down and the hydrocarbon chains within it return to a liquid state. The distillation plates in the tower capture these liquids, which emerge as various distillates depending on the temperature. For example, fuel oil emerges when the vapour cools down below 370 degrees Celsius. Diesel fuel is created by combining specific proportions of these shorter hydrocarbon chain distillates.
The most common type of diesel fuel is a specific fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil, but alternative sources are increasingly being developed, such as biodiesel, biomass-to-liquid (BTL), and gas-to-liquid (GTL) diesel. These alternative sources contribute to the supply of diesel fuel, with biomass-based diesel fuels (biodiesel and renewable diesel) making up a significant portion. In the United States, most of the diesel fuel consumed is ultra-low-sulfur distillate (ULSD), which has a low sulfur content.
Diesel fuel is a high-volume product of oil refineries and is transported to consumers by pipeline, ships, trains, and trucks. In many countries, diesel fuel is standardized to meet specific quality requirements. For example, the standard for diesel fuel in the European Union is EN 590. Diesel fuel is used in various vehicles, including cars, trucks, tractors, trains, and ships, as well as in boilers for steam engines.
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Frequently asked questions
Diesel fuel, also known as diesel oil, heavy oil, or simply diesel, is a liquid fuel designed for diesel engines. Diesel engines ignite without a spark, as the inlet air is compressed and fuel is injected.
Diesel fuel is used by a variety of vehicles and machines. This includes cars, trucks, tractors, trains, ships, and boilers for steam engines.
Diesel fuel is derived from crude oil, which is extracted through wells and offshore rigs. The crude oil is sent to refineries, where it is turned into diesel, gasoline, and other products.
Diesel fuel is typically transported by pipelines from refineries and ports to terminals near major consumption areas. Barges, trains, and trucks are also used to move diesel fuel to these terminals.
In Indonesia, Israel, and the Middle East, diesel fuel is known as Solar, which is a trademarked name by the national petroleum company Pertamina. In Australia, diesel is referred to as distillate, and in the United Kingdom, road diesel is often called white diesel.
