Many machines and vehicles require a source of energy that allows them to carry out their functions. The most common energy source is known as fuel. A fuel is any substance or material capable of generating a violent reaction in contact with oxygen. This reaction produces high temperatures, vapors and fire. The main characteristic of this reaction is the release of energy that can be used to promote the movement or operation of machinery or vehicles. If we mention the word kerosene, it may sound far or near in time. Far, if we think about the lamps with wick that had to be lit (whose essential fuel was kerosene) and that at some point in our lives we have been able to see. Close, if we simply look at the planes that cross the sky, since there is a high probability that the fuel that is being used to propel the engines is kerosene. Not only in aviation, but also can be used as a solvent or as a domestic fuel (mainly in developing countries), given the high thermal stability it presents.

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Kerosene

Kerosene, also called kerosene, is a liquid fuel derived from petroleum. Although gasoline, for example, is also an oil distillate, kerosene differs in that its distillation process includes so-called catalytic cracking. Cracking involves the refining of oil by breaking down heavy hydrocarbons to make them lighter. Kerosene is distilled between 150 and 300 degrees centigrade. It is used as fuel for the cooking of food, lighting, in engines and as a solvent for bitumens and insecticides for domestic use. The chemical composition of kerosene includes between 9 and 16 carbon atoms. It is characterized by having a lower level of volatility than gasoline, which makes it a safer handling fuel.

Applications of kerosene

It is of varied uses and in spite of not being so clean, since it produces smoke and soot in addition to environmental contamination by the emissions that it gives off, it has good qualities for lubricants reducing the wear of parts and mechanical parts as in pressure pumps, it is used as insecticides and is economical in price and easy to obtain in the market, because of its versatility it is used both in heights in cold and low temperatures, in heavy machinery such as those used in agriculture, mining, refineries, large vessels such as fishing and ships, cranes and appliances among others.

The main application of kerosene is as fuel in engines used in aviation. However, other applications of kerosene are:

• Fuel for heavy machinery in the agricultural or mining industries
• Dielectric material in machining processes where electric shocks are used
• Fuel cooling systems
• Base material for the production of polymers
• Production of insecticides
• Cleaner in mechanics

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Despite its usefulness, handling and versatility, its use has declined in its consumption to pass the time, for a new era of more sustainable consumption or the increase of electricity in urban planning, using other sources of energy such as sunlight, strength of water, gas or LPG liquefied gas, which is another oil derivative, and only a small sector maintains it as a secondary product as a base fuel.

Advantages of kerosene

Thanks to its properties and capabilities, kerosene offers the following advantages:

• Facilitates the cold start of the engines
• Its toxic emissions are lower compared to other fuels

• Offers higher performance, that is, provides more energy with a smaller amount
• Does not form deposits or deposits in the injectors
• High levels of stability
• It is one of the cheapest fuels

Kerosene as Fuel

Red kerosene is used as fuel for agricultural equipment, such as tractors and generators. When sold for agricultural purposes, it is dyed red so that it can be easily distinguished for tax purposes. The by-products contained in the dyes make burning red kerosene detrimental to health and the environment. Regular kerosene is used as fuel for fishing vessels and for small and light aircraft. It is also used as fuel in commercial aviation, under the name of Jet-A. If it is not used responsibly, kerosene may pose a fire risk.

The main reason to use kerosene as fuel for aircraft and not the gasoline they use, for example, cars, is their freezing point. Kerosene does not freeze unless the temperature falls below -47 ° C. Hence, it is ideal for the environmental conditions of the flight. The main characteristics of this fuel are that it is flammable at temperatures above 38 ° C in the presence of flame or spark, which has a high calorific power that allows to obtain the maximum possible energy with the minimum weight, which has a small volatility that allows it to avoid losses due to evaporation and fire hazards in the event of an accident, that its point of crystallization and freezing is very low, being perfect for airplanes since, at the heights at which they move, temperatures are very low, and It is also possible to use it as a hydraulic fluid in engine systems and as a coolant in other components of the fuel system.

A commercial aircraft being fueled with kerosene. (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

The Future of kerosene

The future of kerosene depends on the discovery of new applications as well as the development of new methods of production. As demand for kerosene and its byproducts increases, new methods of refining and extracting kerosene will become even more important. One new method, developed by ExxonMobil, is a low-cost way to extract high purity normal paraffin from kerosene. This process uses ammonia that very efficiently absorbs the contaminants. This method uses vapor phase fixed-bed adsorption technology and yields a high level of paraffin that are greater than 90% pure.

New uses include increasing military demand for high grade kerosene to replace much of its diesel fuel with JP-8, which is a kerosene based jet fuel. The diesel fuel industry is also exploring a new process that involves adding kerosene to low sulfur diesel fuel to prevent it from gelling in cold weather. Commercial aviation may benefit by reducing the risk of jet fuel explosion by creating a new low-misting kerosene. In the residential sector, new and improved kerosene heaters that provide better protection from fire are anticipated to increase demand.

References

http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2014/ph240/ukropina2/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerosene

https://www.britannica.com/science/kerosene

https://www.britannica.com/science/kerosene