cetane

American  

[see-teyn] / ˈsi teɪn /

noun

1. a colorless, liquid hydrocarbon of the alkane series, C 16 H 34 , used as a solvent and in cetane number determinations.

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cetane British  

/ ˈsiːteɪn /

noun

1. Also called: hexadecane.  a colourless insoluble liquid alkane hydrocarbon used in the determination of the cetane number of diesel fuel. Formula: C 16 H 34

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cetane Scientific  

/ sē′tān′ /

1. A colorless liquid hydrocarbon derived from petroleum. It is used as a solvent and a component of diesel fuels. Chemical formula: C ₁₆ H _34.

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Etymology

Origin of cetane

First recorded in 1930–35; cet- ( def. ) + -ane

Example Sentences

Plus, it’s higher quality, with cetane levels as high as 88.

From Forbes • Feb. 17, 2012

Cetane is the equivalent of octane in gasoline; the higher cetane, the more evenly and more powerfully the fuel combusts.

From Forbes • Feb. 17, 2012

The average diesel has a cetane level of less than 50.

From Forbes • Feb. 17, 2012

When you keep fuel stored and unused for more than three months, the higher aromatics that give you the octane and cetane ratings begin to evaporate.

From Time Magazine Archive

The raising of the oxygen concentration from the normal 21 per cent to 45 per cent was found to be equivalent to a raise of approximately 10 cetane numbers as far as starting is concerned.

From The First Airplane Diesel Engine: Packard Model DR-980 of 1928 by Meyer, Robert B.