Diesel fuel
Diesel fuel is a type of fuel used in diesel engines. It is derived from petroleum and is a type of hydrocarbon. Diesel fuel is used in many types of vehicles, including trucks, buses, and trains, as well as in some types of ships and aircraft.
Composition[edit | edit source]
Diesel fuel is composed of hydrocarbons, which are compounds made up of hydrogen and carbon. The exact composition of diesel fuel can vary, but it generally contains between 8 and 21 carbon atoms per molecule. The most common types of hydrocarbons in diesel fuel are paraffin, naphthenes, and aromatics.
Production[edit | edit source]
Diesel fuel is produced from crude oil through a process known as refining. The crude oil is heated and separated into different components based on their boiling points. The components that boil at the temperatures used for diesel fuel are collected and further processed to remove impurities and improve the fuel's properties.
Properties[edit | edit source]
Diesel fuel has a number of properties that make it suitable for use in diesel engines. These include a high energy density, which means it contains a large amount of energy per unit of volume, and a high flash point, which makes it safer to handle than some other types of fuel. Diesel fuel also has a high cetane number, which is a measure of its ignition quality.
Environmental Impact[edit | edit source]
The use of diesel fuel has a number of environmental impacts. When burned, it releases carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, as well as other pollutants such as nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. These can contribute to air pollution and climate change. However, modern diesel engines are designed to minimize these emissions, and there are also biofuels and other alternatives to diesel fuel that can be more environmentally friendly.
See Also[edit | edit source]
Diesel fuel Resources | |
---|---|
|
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD