Diesel engines differ from gasoline engines in their fuel ignition method, which relies on compressed air instead of a spark. Diesel fuel pumps inject fuel directly into the cylinder, and their location and design can vary. Diesel engines are popular due to the higher energy density of diesel fuel, resulting in better energy efficiency.
Although diesel engines and gasoline engines are internal combustion engines, the similarity essentially ends from there. Both engines ignite a fuel/air mixture that releases explosive force to drive a crankshaft, driving, for example, the wheels of a car. However, the fuel ignition method is very different between the two engines, with the diesel fuel pump being crucial for this ignition.
Diesel fuel is heavier than gasoline, and not as volatile. Also, diesel fuel evaporates more slowly than gasoline. The popularity of diesel engines is, in large part, the result of the energy density of diesel fuel, which is considerably higher than the density of gasoline, resulting in better energy efficiency. The diesel engine, unlike gasoline engines, does not use a spark to ignite the fuel/air mixture. The heat from the compressed air in the diesel engine’s cylinder provides the ignition source, thus eliminating the need for spark plugs.
Therefore, a diesel fuel pump, often called a diesel fuel injection pump, must inject fuel directly into the cylinder. Diesel fuel ignites when it comes into contact with the super-compressed and super-heated air inside the cylinder. Sometimes diesel fuel injection is favored over compressed air injection as a boost to the fuel injection process.
The diesel fuel pump is a rather complex and strong mechanism. In fact, it is the most complex part of the diesel engine. Additionally, a diesel fuel pump must be durable enough to withstand the pressure of the compressed air and the heat of the injection process. The diesel fuel pump must maintain the fine mist of fuel necessary for proper ignition under these extreme conditions.
Diesel fuel pumps can be located anywhere on the engine, depending on the manufacturer’s design. Much experimentation has been done over the years regarding the most effective placement of the diesel fuel pump. So far it appears that as long as the pump is mounted to the engine it will effectively deliver fuel to the cylinders. A gasoline fuel pump, on the other hand, can be mounted anywhere in the engine compartment or along the fuel delivery system.
Depending on the location and design of the diesel fuel injection pump, pre-combustion chambers, custom induction valves, and other systems are often used in the injection process. These injection boosters often help circulate or spin the air within the cylinder for more efficient combustion. As with any engine fuel injection system, diesel fuel pumps are constantly being improved to be more efficient and less expensive.
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