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Who invented the diesel engine?

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diesel engine and precombustion chamber — diesel engine Diesel engine equipped with a precombustion chamber.

The diesel engine was invented by the German thermal engineer Rudolf Diesel.1

Seeking to improve upon the efficiency of the Otto engine, Diesel conceived the idea for his engine around 1890. He realized that the electric ignition used in gasoline engines could be replaced by compressing air to a temperature high enough to cause auto-ignition of the fuel.12

Diesel obtained a German patent for his design in 1892 and published his theoretical work, Theory and Construction of a Rational Heat Motor, the following year. After experimenting with various fuels, including powdered coal and liquid petroleum, he successfully demonstrated a 25-horsepower, four-stroke compression engine in 1897. The engine's high efficiency and simple design led to immediate commercial success, eventually becoming a vital power source for submarines and other industrial applications.12