The Definition of Diesel Fuel
The U.S. Energy Information Administration estimates that 94 percent of domestic goods are shipped using diesel engines. For this reason, the diesel fuel industry has come under intense public and governmental scrutiny, in attempts to regulate and limit the amount of greenhouse gas emissions in diesel engines.
Other People Are Reading
-
History and Identification
-
Diesel became the common name for the motor fuel used in most heavy compression ignition engines. Diesel fuel is named after its inventor, German engineer Rudolf Diesel, whose original patent dates back to 1892.
Physical Properties
-
On average, diesel fuel weighs about seven pounds per U.S. gallon. The boiling range is between 175 and 345 degrees C (350 to 650 degrees F), which equates to a much lower volatility than regular gasoline.
-
Production
-
Diesel fuel comes from crude oil and is mostly processed at domestic oil refineries. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the U.S. was able to produce 96 percent of its own diesel fuel needs in 2008.
Diesel Engines
-
Diesel engines are used to power trains, construction equipment, freight trucks, and buses. Most of the U.S. transportation fleet runs on diesel fuel, shipping food, fuel, and manufactured goods.
Diesel Generators
-
Diesel fuel is used to generate electricity. Generators powered by diesel fuel provide backup and emergency power for hospitals, industrial facilities, and other large buildings.
Environmental Impact
-
Exhaust emissions from diesel engines increase the amount of sulfur and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency carefully monitors and regulates the chemical properties of diesel fuel to curtail the fuel's environmental impact.
-
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Ellie Van Houtte
