Diesel

The liquid fuel used to power diesel-engines is known as 'diesel,' or distillate. The name 'diesel' is derived from the German inventor, Rudolf Diesel, who invented the compression/ignition engine in 1892. Most of the diesel fuel used in the world is obtained through the specific refining of crude oil as a fractional distillate of petroleum fuel oil, however, it can also be manufactured as; biodiesel (a animal fat or vegetable based diesel fuel); biomass to liquid (BTL), when a liquid biofuel is produced from biomass (biological matter derived from recently living or living organisms); GST (gas to liquid); or a CTL (coal-to-liquid) process.

Petroleum Based Diesel Fuel is Known as Petrodiesel

Petroleum based diesel fuel is often referred to as petrodiesel to distinguish it from other types of diesel fuel. Most of the petrodiesel fuel sold in the weste world is known as ULSD diesel, ULSD being a standard representing diesel with a lower sulphur content. ULSD standing for, 'Ultra-Low- Sulphur.' ULSD fuel is known in Britain as DERV, standing for 'Diesel-Engined-Road-Vehicle' diesel. This abreviation distinguishes it for use on public roads as against diesel fuels with a higher sulphur content that are used for off road purposes.

Petroleum-based diesel, is a fossil diesel oil that is created during the fractional distillation of crude oil, at atmospheric pressure, between 200 and 350 degrees Celsius. This results in carbon chains containing from eight to 21 carbon atoms a molecule mixing together.

The First Diesel Engine ran on Coal Dust as a Fuel

Rudolf Diesel designed his first diesel engine to run on coal dust as a fuel but he also experimented with using various oils, including vegetable oil. One of these was peanut oil which he used to run the engine he exhibited at the Paris Exposition in 1900 and the Paris World Fair in 1911.

Diesel Replaces Coal to Produce Steam

Diesel fuel replaced fuel oil and coal to produce steam to power steam engines in the second half of the 20th century and today is is the main fuel used to power railway vehicles such as railcars and locomotives around the world.

Diesel Used as oil mud for Drilling Purposes

Diesel fuel is also the liquid of choice in oil based mud drilling fluids. The main benefit in using diesel fuel is its low cost and the excellent results obtained when drilling through a variety of gypsum, salt, shale and other difficult types of strata. Diesel oil mud for drilling puposes is usually a mixture of diesel oil and 40 percent brine water but environmental conces have replaced this mixture in many places with synthetic food oil based drilling fluids, or that derived from mineral or vegetable bases. However, diesel oil mud is still widely used in many regions.

Diesel fuel is widely used in the following engines:

• Passenger cars – Since the 1980's diesel fuelled engines have grown in popularity in smaller vehicles whereas in the past thay had mostly been restricted to larger vehicles such as trucks and buses.
• Railway locomotives – Diesel engines have replaced steam engines throughout the world as the preferred engine to pull both freight and passenger trains where electricity is not available. Most mode locomotive engines today are diesel-electric where the diesel engine powers an electric generator that powers the traction motors.
• Shipping – Both small and large vessels are powered by diesel fuelled engines around the world.
• Industry – Most fixed engines used by industry, that are not powered by electricity, are powered by diesel fuel. Tractors of all sizes, mining equipment, some aircraft, power generaters, as well as the world's defence forces, all rely of diesel fuel to facilitate their power needs.