Diesel Fuel - How's it Made?

Diesel fuel is made to power generators, commercial vehicles, some personal vehicles, and other fuel-powered products. This product is more precisely known as petrodiesel or petroleum diesel, which is created after crude oil is purified. When fossil fuels are mined, crude oil will be extracted from the earth. This oil is sent to different refineries to be turned into various products with various applications. Diesel fuel is made in one of these refineries, where it is separated from the crude oil by a fractional distillation. Here's a basic breakdown of how it's made:

-First, diesel is separated from the crude oil mixture. Once the elements are separated based on their boiling temperatures, they are distilled one at a time. First, gasoline and propane are distilled from the diesel. Then, diesel and lubricating oil are separated because they boil at higher points.

-Then, conversion occurs where the diesel fuel in raw form is converted into useable fuel for vehicles and equipment. Sometimes, this process requires more breakdown or separation, but it all depends on the type of separation that occurs initially.

-Finally, the purification process takes place. This is where the fuel is refined and purified to become the fuel that operates vehicles of all kinds. By the time the refining process is completed, there are more than 500 parts per million (PPM) of sulfur in diesel fuel.

This process is the same for all types of diesel fuel, with the further refining setting apart different types of diesel from one another. The reason that this fuel is used so widely is because it is much more affordable to refine than traditional gasoline. Of course, there are a lot of different steps that take place in the filtration process, which continues to increase the prices of diesel fuel over time.

There used to be a time when diesel was cheaper than traditional gasoline simply because it was so easy to make and use. Today, most prices are comparable and diesel is often seen to be the more expensive option simply because of the anti-pollutant processes that take a lot of time and money to complete in the refining process. All in all, making diesel fuel is quite simple and affordable, which makes it a great option for commercial applications and daily use by millions of people around the world. Knowing how the fuel is made simply helps people to better understand why it is so affordable.

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