Ever since Rudolf Christian Karl Diesel (1858-1913) invented the motor that bears his name the world has moved at a different pace. The Principal of Compression Ignition and the unique properties of diesel fuel allows an engine of equal displacement to produce more power and achieve greater economy allowing it to use at least one third less fuel than that of a comparable gasoline engine.
Since its humble beginnings as a tool to help in the mining industry of the 1900s we have adopted the diesel engine to roles that even Mr. Diesel could never have dreamed of. Not only does it power all of the larger trucks on our highways and a majority of the construction equipment that we see daily, but they provide electricity to some of the most remote areas of our planet. Diesel generators are used at the Antarctic research station and countless other facilities around the globe. In addition, just about every major government facility and hospital use diesel engines to provide emergency electricity in times of need. We have adopted the same engine that powers the family pickup to run on methane from landfills and is successfully returning electricity to the grid reducing our need to generate electricity with other more costly fuels.
The use of diesel engines in public transit has taken on a new life with the use of compressed natural gas. This has greatly reduced tailpipe emissions for a cleaner environment. For decades diesel engines have been used in the aeronautic field to move aircraft and equipment around on the ground now they are being used in aircraft as the source for main propulsion and in some cases are almost doubling the range. With the recent conversion to low sulfur fuels our diesel engines now run cleaner then ever. With the dramatic reduction in tailpipe emissions that this will bring about we will all be able to breath easier and enjoy clearer skies. Add to all of these the developments made in the last few years in the areas of biofuels and we are now on the verge of dramatically reducing our dependence on foreign oil. When you look at all that the diesel engine is doing today and it’s potential for the future it is no wonder that the demand for diesel technicians is predicted to increase over the next decade.
