Chalorific Value and Diesel Formula

[Tyn]

Hey, my first post so be nice if i have got it in the wrong forum =)

I am studying a Diesel engine, and wanted to find out more about the composition of Diesel. Ie, how its made, and what chemical composition it has, and any relevant equations?

I am looking for a few things, but Chalorific value is one, and how this is calculated and how much variation there is in theis value for Diesel.

I am looking for highstreet diesel, the one you use in the car.

Any information or a push in the right direction would be appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[mgb_phys]

You could start with the references linked to by wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diesel

 

[Blueshift5]

I am happy to help you with your research on Diesel composition and its calorific value. Let's begin with the definition of calorific value. It is the amount of heat produced when a certain quantity of fuel is burned completely. In the case of Diesel, its calorific value is determined by the chemical composition of the fuel, specifically the amount of carbon and hydrogen present in it.

To understand the composition of Diesel, we need to look at its formula. Diesel is a hydrocarbon fuel, meaning it is composed of hydrogen and carbon atoms. The chemical formula for Diesel is C12H23, which represents a mixture of different hydrocarbons with 12 carbon atoms and 23 hydrogen atoms.

The production of Diesel involves the refining of crude oil, which is a complex process that separates the different components of crude oil based on their boiling points. Diesel is typically produced from the middle distillate fraction of crude oil, which contains longer hydrocarbon chains compared to gasoline.

Now, let's talk about the calorific value of Diesel. The exact value can vary depending on the quality and composition of the fuel, as well as the engine type and operating conditions. However, on average, Diesel has a calorific value of around 45-46 MJ/kg. This means that when 1 kg of Diesel is burned, it can produce approximately 45-46 MJ of heat energy.

To calculate the calorific value of Diesel, we use the following equation:

Calorific value = (8080 x C + 34500 x (H - O/8)) / (12 x C + H)

Where C is the percentage of carbon, H is the percentage of hydrogen, and O is the percentage of oxygen in the fuel. The values 8080 and 34500 are constants used to convert the percentage of each element to energy units.

High street Diesel, which is the type of Diesel used in cars, typically has a higher calorific value compared to other types of Diesel, such as off-road Diesel or marine Diesel. This is because high street Diesel is refined to meet the specific requirements of modern diesel engines.

I hope this information has helped you understand more about the composition and calorific value of Diesel. If you need any further clarification or have any other questions, please do not hesitate to ask. Happy researching!