Diesel Fuel Expansion vs Altitude

[leeave96]

How does the volume of diesel fuel change with respect to a change in altutude?

My preliminary thought is that given it is a fluid, it is considered incompressible and therefore any expansion as the altitude rises above sea level to 10,000 ft would be very small if any at all.

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Thanks!
Bill

 

[dcasto]

diesel's compressibility is more than water and less than gasoline. 14.65 psi change in pressure is unmeasureable except in a lab.

 

[dgallup]

Expansion/contraction due to temperature change will be much greater than the pressure effect.

 

[patprimmer]

Some fluids are very compressible, like all gasses.

I think you mean it is not compressible because it is a liquid.

Regards

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[reidh]

dgallup is correct. The standard lapse rate is about 1 C for every 1000 ft of altitude change. A quick search of aviation fuel properties should give you a chart for density vs. temperature.

-Reidh

 

[truck]

If your concern is with the affect on tankage, you need not worry; standard design parameters are full at 90% of physical volume which allows for all manner of things (including thermal expansion due to increased temperature of the return fuel which typically cools the injectors).



Truck