Diesel combustion uses compressed air and fuel to ignite and power an engine, without the need for a spark plug. The fuel is injected into the combustion chamber and vaporized by the heat, powering the crankshaft. Diesel engines are more fuel-efficient and can handle higher compression levels. The diesel engine was invented by Rudolf Diesel in the late 1800s, and his invention revolutionized the laws of thermodynamics in internal combustion engines.
Diesel combustion uses the thermal energy created by compressing the air and fuel to create an ignition. This ignition leads to the combustion of the injected fuel inside an engine combustion chamber. It differs from gasoline combustion, which uses the combustion of air and fuel ignited by a spark plug. A diesel engine operates on a two or four stroke method and uses a fuel refined from petroleum, biomass, petroleum waste or other sources.
The mixture of air and fuel is very important for efficient diesel combustion. Air is compressed in a combustion chamber with a pressure of about 600 pounds per square inch (about 40 bar). Due to sheer compression, the air inside the chamber heats up to approximately 1000°F (approximately 550°C).
The diesel fuel is then pushed into the chamber with compressed air using a fuel injector. The injector itself breaks down the fuel into tiny droplets, ensuring it is distributed evenly throughout the chamber. The heat vaporizes the droplets, causing combustion, and the pressure pushes the piston outward, powering the crankshaft. This gives the diesel engine its typical “knocking” sound.
The advantage of diesel compression is that the system works without a separate ignition system, as is the case with petrol engines. The compression level can be increased within a diesel engine to increase fuel efficiency. This can be done without the risk of damage to the cylinder. Also, the fact that only air is compressed before fuel is introduced means there is no risk of premature detonation, damaging the engine again.
The diesel engine was invented in the late 1800s. Passionate about engine design, refrigerator engineer Rudolf Diesel began exploring the concept of the internal combustion engine in the late 1880s. Diesel developed the first engine that ran without a spark and filed for a patent in 1894. Over three years, he successfully demonstrated the power and efficiency of diesel combustion. The patent was approved in 1898.
Diesel’s discovery and subsequent invention were the first to deal with the laws of thermodynamics in an internal combustion engine. Diesel combustion uses the natural physical process of heat transfer which was a very creative way for the time period. Furthermore, the inventor had a general sociological intent: Diesel wanted the engine to help independent industry be able to compete with larger companies.
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