Diesel engine

What it is

Compression-ignition engine that burns heavy fuels with the highest thermal efficiency of any engine. Its ruggedness made it the engine of heavy transport.

Herbert Akroyd Stuart patented a hot-bulb engine in 1890 that anticipated injection, but without high compression.

What it led to

• Diesel lorries, locomotives and ships
• First World War submarines
• Agricultural mechanisation and isolated power generation

Built on

• Spindletop gusher and rotary drilling1901
• Otto four-stroke engine
• Carnot's thermodynamics

Made possible

• Motor truck1896
• Modern submarine1888–1900
• MS Selandia (first ocean-going motor ship)1912
• Biodiesel by transesterification (Chavanne)1937
• Diesel locomotive
• Diesel tractor

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