Ever wanted to know how a diesel engine worked?

[theweaselking]

I was asked, a few days ago, what mades a diesel engine different than a regular one.

Apart from "Uses different fuel" and "Used in bigger things", I had no clue.

But now, thanks to the miracle of the Internet, I know.

And you can too.

I love this site.

Comments

[larabeaton.livejournal.com]

At a fundamental thermodynamics level, the standard engine works on the Carnot cycle, and the Diesel engine works on the Diesel cycle.

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

See, I was happy with "different fuel mixture process allows different compression and more efficient use of each explosion with less refinement necessary to get the gas. Oh, and no sparkplugs."

[larabeaton.livejournal.com]

Actually, the only reason I posted that was because I was impressed with myself for remembering that.

[ryusen.livejournal.com]

Or more importantly.. the site explained how a Rotary Engine worked...

[rimrunner.livejournal.com]

Howstuffworks is one of the best sites ever.

[texas-tiger.livejournal.com]

I know that a diesel engine doesn't need spark plugs as the fuel will ignite when compressed sufficiently on its own.

Also, did you know that farm diesel (as opposed to commercially sold diesel) is subsidised and is colored pink so that it can't be switched with the other?

[theweaselking.livejournal.com]

I did indeed know that. I know the thing about the spark plugs *now*, but I didn't know that yesterday.

[corruptedjasper.livejournal.com]

Where "subsidised" is spelled "not taxed quite as hard".