Diesel engine
| Diesel engine | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Internal combustion engine |
| Industry | Automotive |
| Application | Energy transformation |
| Inventor | Rudolf Diesel |
| Invented | 1893 |
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine in which ignition of diesel fuel is caused by the elevated temperature of the air in the cylinder due to mechanical compression; thus, the diesel engine is also called a compression-ignition engine (or CI engine). This contrasts with engines using spark plug-ignition of the air-fuel mixture, such as a petrol engine (gasoline engine) or a gas engine (using a gaseous fuel like natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas). The diesel engine is named after its inventor, German engineer Rudolf Diesel.