| ABOUT | CATEGORIES | Worlds of David Darling | CONTACT |
 |
cetane number
A measure of the ease with which a liquid fuel self-ignites. Cetane number is the diesel fuel equivalent to a gasoline octane rating, and expresses the fuel's ignition quality and its suitability for spontaneous self-ignition in an engine. The fuel must ignite spontaneously and quickly after being injected into the hot, compressed air inside the combustion chamber. A higher cetane number means a shorter ignition delay and a smaller amount of fuel in the combustion chamber when the fuel ignites.
Related category
• FUELS
Source: US Department of Energy
Also on this site:
Encyclopedia of Science
Transport Concepts & Designs (partner site)