Because of anticipated changes in refinery feedstocks and supply and demand patterns the most economical diesel fuels which could be supplied in Canada in 1990 could have a base cetane number of 37 and this might be expected to drop to 35 in 2000. Large medium speed railroad diesels can readily accept these fuels without increased operating costs and research is now proceeding to determine the effects on the higher speed Class 7 and 8 truck engines which account for a large proportion of the diesel fuel demand. Fundamental studies principally on analysis of the hydrocarbons in present and future Canadian diesel fuel are also in progress and are aimed at giving a clearer understanding of the effects of different aromatics on the combustion process.
