Choosing the right diesel engine and exploring alternative options

Diesel engines can deliver efficiency while also being kind to the environment.

As a global leading engine manufacturer, DEUTZ is using decades of expertise to play a vital role in developing high-quality, eco-friendly and efficient engines.

DEUTZ’s first diesel engine was launched in 1898 and since then, they have been refined and adapted to service a wide range of industries and environments – from farming and construction to railroad locomotives and cruise and cargo ships that navigate international oceans.

Environmental protection has also become an increasing focus of diesel engine design. For example, DEUTZ’s diesel engine particle emissions have fallen by 97 per cent since 1999. In 2021, 69.9 per cent of DEUTZ engines were EU STAGE V and US EPA T4 certified.

Diesel engine basics

The first diesel engine was developed in the 1890s by French-born Rudolf Diesel. At the time when Diesel was working on his invention, steam power dominated industries across the world. Diesel’s innovation changed all that and after years of refinement, the diesel engine became the foundation of many key industries as they moved into the 20th century.

Essentially, diesel engines convert chemical energy into mechanical energy. Through a series of internal combustions or reactions, the engine converts fuel into energy that can then power a diverse array of machinery and equipment.

Diesel engines bring a number of strengths. They offer good thermal efficiency, so they deliver a good power return on the amount of fuel they burn and this boosts the engine’s power. So, a diesel engine is the go-to engine when heavy lifting is involved.

If you are running a business with a close eye on the bottom line, diesel engines are also well-known for reasonable operating costs, reduced wear and tear and reliability. These engines are also renowned for their longevity. If they are properly maintained and serviced, they will efficiently support your business for many years.

Fuels of the future

Recently, engineers from the University of NSW in Sydney converted a diesel engine to run as a hydrogen-diesel hybrid engine. In tests, the prototype reduced CO2 emissions by more than 85 per cent. The researchers say that any diesel engine – including those in transportation, agriculture and mining – could eventually be retrofitted to adopt the new hydrogen-diesel hybrid model.

Meanwhile, DEUTZ has been investing to make its classic diesel engines more environmentally friendly. The engine exhaust after treatment system (EAT system) is designed to treat harmful emissions before they are released into the atmosphere.

In addition, the powerful DEUTZ Common Rail (DCR) injection system, and the electronic engine control (EMR 4), are linked to the drive management and ensure optimum diesel engine performance at low fuel consumption.

Fossil fuel alternatives can alsopower DEUTZ innovative drive systems:

  • Biogenic fuels: Biogenic fuels or biofuels are derived from renewable organic sources. They are produced using biomass– any organic matter derived from plants, animals or micro-organisms. Biofuels are considered a sustainable alternative to conventional fossil fuels to power DEUTZ engines because they are produced from renewable resources and can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Liquid gas (hydrogen): Liquefied petroleum gas or LPG describes propane-butane mixtures that are liquid at room temperature and low compression (< 10 bar). Its benefits are its high energy density in the gas tank, and reduced CO2 emissions during combustion compared to diesel engines of a comparable size.

LPG is typically created during petroleum refining. It is also produced during the manufacture of HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oils) as a bio-LPG with very low greenhouse gas emission potential. In addition to the TCD 2.2 and 2.9 engines, DEUTZ has developed its G 2.2 and G 2.9 series to be fuelled by LPG.

  • Natural gas: The main component of natural gas is methane. Depending on storage, transport and refuelling, it is called CNG (compressed natural gas) or LNG (liquefied natural gas) when natural gas is liquefied through cooling and then kept liquid in storage containers.

Due to its relatively clean combustion and lower CO2 emissions compared to diesel engines of similar power, natural has been increasingly used in internal combustion engines in recent years. For stationary use, the tried and tested G 914 and TCG 2015 engines are available, while the G 2.2 (CNG) is available for forklift applications.

  • Paraffinic fuel: Paraffinic diesel fuels are manufactured on an industrial scale based on synthesis gas from fossil fuels, like gas. This is then referred to as GtL (gas-to-liquid) or HVO (hydrogenated vegetable oils). These fuels bring lower emissions and better greenhouse gas emissions compared to conventional diesel fuel. Synthetic diesel fuel produced in this way is miscible with fossil diesel in any ratio. DEUTZ has approved all series that comply with EU emission level V for use with paraffin diesel fuels – this is in accordance with EN 15490. A large number of older engine series without exhaust gas after-treatment have also been approved.
  • E-fuels: E-fuels are synthetic fuels that are made from water and carbon dioxide (CO2) using electricity. Depending on the fuel produced (gaseous/liquid), this process is referred to as power-to-gas (PtG) or power-to-liquid (PtL). In the long-term, the production of e-diesel using renewable electricity will allow for the climate-friendly, CO2-neutral operation of engines. More information on DEUTZ Electrified drive systems is available here: https://deutz-electrified.com/