Diesel engines are now being used more and more in vehicles, cars, and generators in the past years. However, a gasoline (petrol) engine can sometimes accomplish the same roles of the diesel engine at much higher cost.
Diesel engines differ from gasoline engines in the combustion process and efficiencies. Diesel engines infuse air and fuel at different times, and they compress only air in the combustion chamber and compress the air at a much higher ratio.
Diesel engine compression is approximately 14:1 up to 25:1 whereas gasoline engine compression is from 8:1 to 12:1. The peak temperature produced is vastly higher than the temperature obtained from a gasoline engine. The diesel fuel (or air/fuel mixture) ignites in the combustion chamber due to the high temperature at peak temperature and pressure.
Our purpose here today is to discuss applications of diesel engines and the benefits of diesel engines. In fact, previous articles were published earlier about Diesel engine checkout!
Diesel engines are widely used as mechanical engines and generators and mobile drives. Diesel engines have many uses in locomotives, construction equipment, automobiles, and an endless applications to mention for industry and commerce.
They are used as industrial diesel engines and diesel-powered generators as power sources in construction, marine, mining, hospitals, forestry, telecommunications, underground and agricultural applications, etc.. Here is also a discussion of diesel engines and petrol engines.
Applications of diesel engines
The following are applications of diesel engines.
Passenger Cars.
Diesel is often linked to heavy trucks, larger cars, and now some smaller cars or superminis. For commercial vehicles and passenger cars diesel was preferred for reliability and smoothness along with a high level of low-end torque.
The introduction of electronic controlled fuel injection allowed for better torque smoothness and allowed the manufacturer to develop luxury vehicles with a diesel engine.
Diesel engines for passenger cars have from three to ten cylinders and displacements from 0.8 to 5.0 litres, most of which are turbocharged and using direct injection.
Locomotives.
Diesel locomotives were first introduced in 1913. They were designed for continuous service and, in certain cases, poor quality fuel will have to be used. Some locomotives utilize a two-stroke diesel engine; however, most modern diesel locomotives are built for diesel-electric locomotives.
A diesel engine powers an electric generator that drives electric traction motors, which are not mechanically connected to the diesel engine.
Diesel engines have replaced steam engines as the prime mover on all non-electrified railroads in the industrialized world.
Watercraft.
The requirements for marine diesel engines vary by application. Diesel engines have a significant amount of applications in the military and medium-size boats need medium slow-speed four-stroke diesel engines.
Most of these engines will have up to 24 cylinders and have power outputs in the one-digit megawatt range. Diesel engines for trucks can also be applied to small boats. Big ships regularly employ very efficient low-speed two-stroke diesel engines reaching efficiencies of over 55%.
In contrast to most common diesel engines, two-stroke watercraft engines operate on a very viscous fuel oil. Submarines, are typically diesel electric.
Stationary diesel engine.
Stationary diesel engines are used for electricity generation and powering refrigerator compressors, as examples of compressors or pumps.
Generally, the engines run continuously; either mostly at partial load, or with intermittent full load. Stationary diesel engines powering electric generators that provide an alternating current, generally operate with alternating load but do operate at a fixed crankshaft frequency.
The mechanical fixed frequency comes from the mains either being 50 Hz (Europe) or 60 Hz (United States). The crankshaft frequency is selected so that the mains frequency is a multiple of the crankshaft frequency.
More practically then, crankshaft frequency results in either 25 Hz (1500 per minute) or 30 Hz (1800 per minute).
Non-road diesel engine.
Non-road diesel engines are widely used in construction equipment. A big advantage of these engines is that they provide good usability such as fuel efficiency, reliability and maintenance.
However, high power output and quietness are not important. Therefore, mechanically controlled fuel injection and air-cooling are still widely used.
Non-road diesel engines power outputs vary significantly, with the small units starting at 3 kW, and the largest engines being heavy-duty lorry engines.
Aviation.
Diesel engines in aircraft applications were established before WWll. However, in the shortly before and in the years following the 1970s, diesel engine applications in aircraft fell out of use.
1978, Karl H. Bergey stated, “the likelihood of a general aviation diesel in the near future is remote.” Recently in 2016, diesel engines are used in unmanned aircraft (UAV), because of their reliability, durability, and low fuel consumption.
Advantages of diesel engines
Advantage 1: Diesel Fuel Economy
Diesel vehicles have a 20% to 35% better distance per gallon than a gasoline vehicle of a similar size, so diesel fuel economy comparison with biodiesel also indicates low-sulfur diesel may be the better option.
This isn’t the official definition but the US Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center states B100 is about 7% less efficient than diesel; B20, however is about equal to regular diesel regarding potential fuel efficiency.
What is diesel fuel efficiency? One limited comparison of passenger vehicles by The Motley Fool showed diesel is 29% more efficient on the highway and 24% more efficient in the city.
Diesel is the most viable option for commercial vehicles in areas without natural gas or hydrogen infrastructure and in those areas diesel may be preferable.
Advantage 2: Diesel Engines Require Less Maintenance
If you’re wondering whether diesel engines have more issues, they don’t. Diesel engines just have fewer overall parts than gasoline engines, and simply fewer components means less that can break or need repairs.
As an example, diesel engines don’t have spark plugs, which leaves less room for electrical issues, and also, less maintenance and service needed by the owner. More savings and less waste!
What is the major issue with diesel engines? Overheating, according to many. Diesel engines are powerful and work hard through all environmental conditions. But with just a little routine maintenance, Cummins Inc. diesel engines are up to any task.
Advantage 3: Diesel Powers High Torque
What are the performance benefits of a diesel engine? Diesel engines provide better acceleration and have greater towing and hauling capability than gasoline engines. In a diesel engine, the piston moves to the top of the cylinder whereas in a gasoline engine, it stops short.
Because diesel engines compress more air faster, they deliver more power for the task at hand. Often, diesel engines use a turbocharger or vortex generating device to allow more air to enter the engine to provide power through horsepower.
Cummins is focused in developing turbochargers for medium and heavy-duty diesel engines for operational efficiency and cost savings.
Advantage 4: Diesel Engines Have a Long Lifespan
Diesel engines are robust and can take high compression and the engine refuses to quit.
That’s all for this article, explaining diesel engine applications. I hope this was helpful, if so, please share! Thank you for reading, and goodbye for now!