Editing Cetane number

{{Short description|Performance measurement of diesel fuel}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
'''Cetane number''' ('''cetane rating''') ('''CN''')  is an indicator of the [[combustion]] speed of [[diesel fuel]] and compression needed for [[wikt:ignition|ignition]]. It plays a similar role for [[diesel fuel|diesel]] as [[octane rating]] does for [[gasoline]]. The CN is an important factor in determining the quality of diesel fuel, but not the only one; other measurements of diesel fuel's quality include (but are not limited to) energy content, [[density]], lubricity, cold-flow properties and sulfur content.<ref name=Ullmann>Werner Dabelstein, Arno Reglitzky, Andrea Schütze and Klaus Reders "Automotive Fuels" in ''Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry'', 2007, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim.{{doi|10.1002/14356007.a16_719.pub2}}</ref>

== Definition ==
The cetane number of a fuel is defined by finding a blend of [[cetane]] and [[heptamethylnonane|isocetane]] with the same ignition delay. Cetane has a cetane number defined to be 100, while isocetane's measured cetane number is 15, replacing the former reference fuel [[Alpha-methyl naphthalene|alpha-methylnaphthalene]], which was assigned a cetane number of 0. Once the blend is known, the cetane number is calculated as a volume-weighted average, rounded to the nearest whole number, of cetane's 100 and isocetane's 15.<ref name=":0" />
:cetane number = % ''n''-cetane + 0.15(% isocetane)<ref name=":0" />

[[Cetane]] number is an inverse function of a fuel's ignition delay, the time period between the start of ignition and the first identifiable pressure increase during combustion of the fuel. In a particular diesel engine, higher cetane fuels will have shorter ignition delay periods than lower cetane fuels. Cetane numbers are only used for the relatively light distillate diesel oils. For heavy (residual) fuel oil two other scales are used, [[Calculated Carbon Aromaticity Index|CCAI]] and [[Calculated Ignition Index|CII]].

== Typical values ==
Generally, diesel engines operate well with a CN from 48 to 50. Fuels with lower cetane number have longer ignition delays, requiring more time for the fuel combustion process to be completed. Hence, higher speed diesel engines operate more effectively with higher cetane number fuels.

In Europe, diesel cetane numbers were set at a minimum of 38 in 1994 and 40 in 2000. The standard for diesel sold in [[European Union]], [[Iceland]], [[Norway]] and [[Switzerland]] is defined by standard [[EN 590]]. Since 1 January 2001 EN 590 demands a minimum [[cetane index]] of 46 and a minimum cetane number of 51. Premium diesel fuel can have a cetane number as high as 60.<ref>[http://rb-k.bosch.de/en/powerconsumptionemissions/dieselsysteme/service/faqs.html bosch.de] (German) {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071224213516/http://rb-k.bosch.de/en/powerconsumptionemissions/dieselsysteme/service/faqs.html |date=December 24, 2007 }}</ref>

In Finland, premium diesel fuels sold by [[filling station]] chains [[St1]] (Diesel Plus), Shell (containing GTL) and ABC (Smart Diesel) have a minimum cetane number of 60 with the typical value being at 63.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://content.st1.fi/sites/default/files/2018-05/eb41a6d6-d5ae-4de0-a699-ea60f497f2e0.pdf|title=St1 Diesel plus -20 °C Product Data Sheet|date=2018-03-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.shell.fi/motorists/tuotetiedot-ja-kayttoturvallisuustiedotteet/_jcr_content/par/textimage.stream/1521278305628/2cb1590505b9153dea0c19238b1adb96a10b25a5/shell-diesel-tuotetieto-20-03-2018.pdf|title=Shell Diesel Summer -20 °C Product Data Sheet|date=2018-03-15|access-date=2020-01-03|archive-date=2020-01-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200103172129/https://www.shell.fi/motorists/tuotetiedot-ja-kayttoturvallisuustiedotteet/_jcr_content/par/textimage.stream/1521278305628/2cb1590505b9153dea0c19238b1adb96a10b25a5/shell-diesel-tuotetieto-20-03-2018.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.abcasemat.fi/lataa-tiedosto/145/tuotetieto---produktdata-smart-diesel--20.pdf|title=NEOT DIESEL -10/-20, NEOT DIESEL -10/-20 Premium Smart Diesel Data Sheet|date=2018-03-15}}</ref> [[Neste]] MY [[Neste Renewable Diesel|Renewable Diesel]] sold in Finland has a minimum cetane number of 70.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.neste.fi/static/datasheet_pdf/150450_en.pdf|title=Neste MY Renewable Diesel Product Data Sheet|date=2019-01-01}}</ref>

In North America, most states adopt ASTM D975 as their diesel fuel standard and the minimum cetane number is set at 40, with typical values in the 42-45 range.  Premium diesel fuel may or may not have higher cetane number depending on the supplier. Premium diesel often use [[fuel additive|additives]] to improve CN and [[lubricity]], [[detergent]]s to clean the [[fuel injector]]s and minimize [[carbon]] deposits, water dispersants, and other additives depending on geographical and seasonal needs.{{citation needed|date=January 2013}}. California diesel fuel has a minimum cetane of 53.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arb.ca.gov/enf/fuels/dieselspecs.pdf|title=Specs table|website=www.arb.ca.gov|access-date=2013-06-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170221021415/https://www.arb.ca.gov/enf/fuels/dieselspecs.pdf|archive-date=2017-02-21|url-status=dead}}</ref> Under the Texas Low Emission Diesel (TxLED) program there are 110 counties where diesel fuel must have a cetane number of 48 or greater, or else must use an approved alternative formulation or comply with the designated alternative limits.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tceq.texas.gov/airquality/mobilesource/txled/cleandiesel.html|title=Texas Low Emission Diesel (TxLED) Program|website=TCEQ}}</ref>

Neste MY Renewable Diesel sold in North America has a cetane number of 70+.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.neste.us/neste-my-renewable-diesel/product-information|title=The Advantages of Neste MY Renewable Diesel (HVO or R99 Diesel)|date=2022-07-22|website=Neste in North America|language=en|access-date=2023-10-16}}</ref>

==Additives==
[[Alkyl nitrate]]s (principally 2-ethylhexyl nitrate<ref>[http://www.dorfketal.com/additivesphlox.htm dorfketal.com] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070808003416/http://www.dorfketal.com/additivesphlox.htm |date=August 8, 2007 }}</ref>) and [[Di-tert-butyl peroxide|di-''tert''-butyl peroxide]] are used as additives to raise the cetane number.

==Alternative fuels==
[[Biodiesel]] from vegetable oil sources have been recorded as having a cetane number range of 46 to 52, and animal-fat based biodiesels cetane numbers range from 56 to 60.<ref>{{cite web |title=Biodiesel Cetane Number Engine Testing Comparison to Calculated Cetane Index Number |url=http://www.biodiesel.org/resources/reportsdatabase/reports/gen/19940101_gen-297.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070714042908/http://www.biodiesel.org/resources/reportsdatabase/reports/gen/19940101_gen-297.pdf |archive-date=2007-07-14 |access-date=2008-09-13 |website=www.biodiesel.org}}</ref>  [[Dimethyl ether]] is a potential diesel fuel as it has a high cetane rating (55-60) and can be produced as a [[biofuel]].<ref>{{cite book | last1 = Olah | first1 = G.A. | last2 = Goeppert | first2 = A. | last3 = Prakash | first3 = G.K. | author-link1 = George Andrew Olah | title = Beyond Oil and Gas: The Methanol Economy | url = https://archive.org/details/beyondoilgasmeth0000olah | url-access = registration | year = 2006 | chapter = 11}}</ref> Most simple ethers, including liquid ones, such as [[diethyl ether]] can be used as diesel fuels, although the lubricity can be of concern.

== Chemical relevance ==
[[Cetane]] is the hydrocarbon with chemical formulas C<sub>16</sub>H<sub>34</sub> and specifically the structural formula CH<sub>3</sub>(CH<sub>2</sub>)<sub>14</sub>CH<sub>3</sub>. Also named n-hexadecane, it is an unbranched [[Saturated and unsaturated compounds|saturated]] [[alkane]]. Cetane ignites with a short delay under compression, and is assigned a cetane number of 100. [[alpha-methyl naphthalene|Alpha-methylnaphthalene]], which has a long delay period, was assigned a cetane number of 0, but has been replaced as a reference fuel by [[Isocetane|2,3,4,5,6,7,8-heptamethylnonane]], which is assigned a cetane number of 15.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Speight|first=James G.|url=http://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/9781118986370|title=Handbook of Petroleum Product Analysis: Speight/Handbook of Petroleum Product Analysis|date=2014-12-12|publisher=John Wiley & Sons, Inc|isbn=978-1-118-98637-0|location=Hoboken, NJ|language=en|doi=10.1002/9781118986370}}</ref> All other [[hydrocarbon]]s in diesel fuel are indexed to cetane as to how rapidly they ignite under compression, i.e. [[diesel engine]] conditions. Since hundreds of components comprise diesel fuel, the overall cetane number of that fuel is the average cetane quality of all the components. High-cetane components have a disproportionate influence, hence the use of high-cetane additives.

== Measuring cetane number ==
Cetane numbers are rather difficult to measure accurately, as it requires a special diesel engine called a Cooperative Fuel Research (CFR) engine. Under standard test conditions, the operator of the CFR engine uses a manual-wheel to increase the compression ratio (and therefore the peak pressure within the cylinder) of the engine until the time between fuel injection and ignition is 2.407 ms.  The resulting cetane number is then calculated by determining which mixture of [[cetane]] ([[hexadecane]]) and [[isocetane]] (2,2,4,4,6,8,8-heptamethylnonane) will result in the same ignition delay.

===Ignition Quality Tester (IQT)===
Another reliable method of measuring the derived cetane number (DCN) of diesel fuel is the Ignition Quality Tester (IQT). This instrument applies a simpler, more robust approach to CN measurement than the CFR. Fuel is injected into a constant volume combustion chamber at approximately 575&nbsp;°C and {{convert|310|psi|bar|abbr=on}}. The time between the start of injection and the recovery of the combustion chamber pressure to {{convert|310|psi|bar|abbr=on}} is defined as the ignition delay. This measured ignition delay is then used to calculate the DCN of the fuel. The fuel's DCN is then calculated using an empirical inverse relationship to ignition delay. Because of the reproducibility, material cost, and speed of the IQT, this has been the definitive source for DCN measurements of fuels since the late 2000s.<ref>Heyne, Kirby, Boehman, ''Energy & Fuels'', 2009. {{doi|10.1021/ef900715m}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Dooley | first1 = Stephen | last2 = Hee Won | first2 = Sang | last3 = Heyne | first3 = Joshua | last4 = Farouk | first4 = Tanvir I. | last5 = Ju | first5 = Yiguang | last6 = Dryer | first6 = Frederick L. | last7 = Kumar | first7 = Kamal | last8 = Hui | first8 = Xin | last9 = Sung | first9 = Chih-Jen | last10 = Wang | first10 = Haowei | last11 = Oehlschlaeger | first11 = Matthew A. | last12 = Iyer | first12 = Venkatesh | last13 = Iyer | first13 = Suresh | last14 = Litzinger | first14 = Thomas A. | last15 = Santoro | first15 = Robert J. | last16 = Malewicki | first16 = Tomasz | last17 = Brezinsky | first17 = Kenneth | year = 2012 | title = The experimental evaluation of a methodology for surrogate fuel formulation to emulate gas phase combustion kinetic phenomena | journal = Combustion and Flame | volume = 159| issue = 4 | pages = 1444–1466| doi = 10.1016/j.combustflame.2011.11.002 }}</ref>
<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Dooley | first1 = Stephen | last2 = Hee Won | first2 = Sang | last3 = Chaos | first3 = Marcos | last4 = Heyne | first4 = Joshua | last5 = Ju | first5 = Yiguang | last6 = Dryer | first6 = Frederick L. | last7 = Kumar | first7 = Kamal | last8 = Sung | first8 = Chih-Jen | last9 = Wang | first9 = Haowei | last10 = Oehlschlaeger | first10 = Matthew A. | last11 = Santoro | first11 = Robert J. | last12 = Litzinger | first12 = Thomas A. | year = 2010 | title = A jet fuel surrogate formulated by real fuel properties | journal = Combustion and Flame | volume = 157| issue = 12 | pages = 2333–2339| doi = 10.1016/j.combustflame.2010.07.001 }}</ref>

===Fuel ignition tester===
Another reliable method of measuring the derived cetane number of diesel fuel is the Fuel Ignition Tester (FIT). This instrument applies a simpler, more robust approach to CN measurement than the CFR. Fuel is injected into a constant volume combustion chamber in which the ambient temperature is approximately 575&nbsp;°C. The fuel combusts, and the high rate of pressure change within the chamber defines the start of combustion. The ignition delay of the fuel can then be calculated as the time elapsed between the start of fuel injection and the start of combustion. The fuel's derived cetane number can then be calculated using an empirical inverse relationship to ignition delay.

===Cetane index===
{{Main|Cetane index}}
Another statistic used by fuel-users to control quality is the cetane index (CI), which is a calculated number based on the [[density]] and a distillation range of the fuel. There are various versions of this, depending on whether metric or Imperial units are used, and the number of distillation points that are used. These days most [[petroleum industry|oil companies]] use the '4-point method', ASTM D4737, based on density and 10% 50% and 90% recovery temperatures. The '2-point method' is defined in [[ASTM]] D976 and uses just density and the 50% recovery temperature. This 2-point method tends to overestimate the cetane index and is not recommended. Cetane index calculations cannot account for cetane improver additives and therefore do not measure the total cetane number for additized diesel fuels. Diesel engine operation is primarily related to the actual cetane number, and the cetane index is merely an estimation of the base (unadditized){{clarify|date=October 2023}} cetane number.

===Industry standards===
The industry standards for measuring cetane number are ASTM D613 (ISO 5165) for the CFR engine, D6890 for the IQT, and D7170 for the FIT.

== See also ==
* [[NExBTL]]
* [[Octane rating]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite book | title = Internal Combustion Engine Fundamentals | url = https://archive.org/details/internalcombusti00heyw | url-access = registration | author = John B. Heywood | publisher = McGraw Hill | year = 1988 | isbn = 0-07-100499-8}}
* {{cite book | title = Automotive Fuels Reference Book| author = Keith Owen, Trevor Coley SAE | year = 1995 | isbn = 1-56091-589-7}}

== External links ==
* [http://yarchive.net/car/cetane_number.html Article by Bruce Hamilton]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070830042641/http://www.bp.com/sectiongenericarticle.do?categoryId=4005623&contentId=7009145 Explanation of Cetane from BP]

[[Category:Diesel fuel]]
[[Category:Fuel technology]]
[[Category:Petroleum production]]
[[Category:Scales]]