CETANE number, a measure of the ingition quality of a fuel, is of importance in the satisfactory operation of a diesel engine; however, there is considerable evidence that cetane number is not the only criterion of a good diesel fuel and that other characteristics indicative of its burning properties must be considered.
The authors feel that basic research on diesel fuels is necessary to determine the influence of additives, hydrocarbon structure, and physical properties on ignition and combustion under a wide range of conditions. This work should be so fundamental, they believe, that the results would be applicable not only to diesel engines but also to gas turbines, jet propulsion engines, and rocket engines.
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The opinions or assertions in this paper are the private ones of the authors and are not to be construed as official or reflecting the views of the Navy Department or the Naval Service at large.