Differences between Octane Number

and Cetane Number

Cetane number (diesel fuel) and octane number (gasoline) both measure the tendency of
the fuel to ignite spontaneously. In the cetane number scale, high values represent fuels
that ignite readily and, therefore, perform better in a diesel engine. In the octane number
scale, high values represent fuels that resist spontaneous ignition and, therefore, have less
tendency to knock in a gasoline engine. Because both scales were developed so that
higher numbers represent higher quality for the respective use, high cetane number
fuels have low octane numbers, and vice versa.
 Octane Number Cetane Number
The Octane Number of a gasoline is The cetane number of a fuel is defined as the
defined as the volume percent of isooctane volume percent of n-hexadecane in a blend
(2,2,4-trimethylpentane, an isomer of of n-hexadecane and 1-methylnaphthalene
octane) in a blend of isooctane and n- that gives the same ignition delay period as
heptane. An 87-octane gasoline, for the test sample. For example, a fuel with a
example, has the same octane rating as a cetane number of 40 will perform the same
mixture of 87 vol-% isooctane and 13 vol- in the engine as a blend of 40% n-
% n-heptane. This does not mean, however, hexadecane and 60% 1-methylnaphthalene.
that the gasoline actually should contain Cetane number is actually a measure of a
these chemicals in these proportions. It fuel's ignition delay; the time period
simply means that it has the same between the start of injection and start of
autoignition resistance as the described combustion (ignition) of the fuel. In a
mixture. particular diesel engine, higher cetane fuels
will have shorter ignition delay periods than
lower cetane fuels. Cetane numbers are only
used for the relatively light distillate diesel
oils.
The octane Number is a measure of the The Cetane Number is a measure of the
auto ignition resistance of gasoline (petrol) combustion quality of diesel fuel under
and other fuels used in spark-ignition compression.
internal combustion engines. It's a measure
of anti-detonation of a gasoline or fuel.
The higher the octane number the better is The Higher Cetane number means that the
the resistance of Gasoline to combustion Diesel will ignite readily and, therefore,
prematurely, known as Knocking. perform better in a diesel engine.
Isooctane is given a maximum octane N-hexadecane is given a maximum octane
number, i.e. 100. number, i.e. 100.
N-heptane is given a minimum octane 1-methylnaphthalene is given a minimum
number, i.e. 0. octane number, i.e. 0.
Octane numbers are only used between 0 Cetane numbers are only used for the
and 100. The fuels having better anti- relatively light distillate diesel oils. For
knocking property than isooctane are rated heavy (residual) fuel oil two other scales are
in other scales like octane Performance. used CCAI and CII.
Octane number is actually a measure of a Cetane number is actually a measure of a
fuel's autoignition (prematurely) delay; the fuel's ignition delay; the time period
time period between the start of injection between the start of injection and start of
and start of combustion (ignition) of the combustion (ignition) of the fuel. In a
fuel. In a particular internal combustion particular diesel engine, higher cetane fuels
engine, higher octane fuels will have larger will have shorter ignition delay periods than
ignition delay periods than lower octane lower cetane fuels.
fuels.