What type of ignition system is used in diesel engines to ignite fuel?

In diesel engines, the ignition of fuel is achieved through a process known as compression ignition. This method relies on the high compression of air within the combustion chamber, which raises the air temperature significantly. When diesel fuel is injected into this hot, high-pressure air, it vaporizes and ignites without the need for an external spark.

This is fundamentally different from spark ignition systems, which rely on a spark plug to ignite the air-fuel mixture in gasoline engines. Understanding how compression ignition works is crucial because it highlights the efficiency of diesel engines and their ability to operate with a higher compression ratio than spark-ignited engines. Additionally, while electronic ignition systems may be utilized in some modified diesel applications, they are not the standard ignition method for diesel fuel. Battery ignition is specifically associated with gasoline engines, where a spark is necessary to initiate combustion. Hence, compression ignition is the definitive and correct answer for the mechanism by which fuel is ignited in diesel engines.