Cetane

Cetane is a chemical compound and an important hydrocarbon in the field of diesel fuel performance. Its chemical formula is C₁₆H₃₄, and it is also known as hexadecane. Cetane is a colorless, liquid alkane that is used as a standard measure of the ignition quality of diesel fuel.

Properties

Cetane has a high cetane number, which is a measure of the combustion quality of diesel fuel during compression ignition. The cetane number is determined by the delay between the start of injection and the start of combustion (ignition) of the fuel. A higher cetane number indicates a shorter delay and better ignition properties.

Cetane Number

The cetane number is a critical parameter in diesel engines, as it affects the engine's performance, emissions, and noise. Diesel fuels with higher cetane numbers generally result in more efficient combustion, reduced emissions of pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter, and smoother engine operation.

Production and Use

Cetane is produced through the hydrogenation of hexadecene or by the Fischer-Tropsch process. It is used primarily as a reference compound in the determination of the cetane number of diesel fuels. In addition, cetane is sometimes added to diesel fuel to improve its ignition properties.

Related Compounds

Other hydrocarbons similar to cetane include octane, which is used as a standard measure of the performance of gasoline engines. While octane and cetane numbers are both measures of fuel quality, they are used for different types of engines and have opposite effects; higher octane numbers indicate resistance to knocking in gasoline engines, whereas higher cetane numbers indicate better ignition quality in diesel engines.

Environmental Impact

The use of cetane and high-cetane-number diesel fuels can contribute to reduced emissions of harmful pollutants. However, the production and use of diesel fuel still pose environmental challenges, including the release of greenhouse gases and other pollutants.

See Also

• Diesel engine
• Diesel fuel
• Octane rating
• Hydrocarbon
• Fischer-Tropsch process
• Ignition quality