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DME: Clean Diesel from Natural Gas

Why DME?

• Thermal efficiency equivalent to diesel fuel• Ignition characteristics equivalent to diesel fuel• High cetane rating :55 – 60 vs. 40-45 for petroleum-derived

diesel)• Low boiling point provides fast fuel/air mixing, reduced

ignition delay, and excellent cold starting properties• Easy to store and distribute (87 psi vs. 300 psi for

CNG or cryogenic storage for LNG)• Higher energy yield than FT diesel

Syngas to Methanol

Process Flow Diagram for DME Production

Team Mentor: Bill Keesom Team members: Alex Magarychev, John Elzaibak, Kamal Tbakhi, Roy Kim

Environmental Impact

• Clean production process• Ultra low exhaust emissions• No particulate matter (very low NOx, no SOx)• Low CO2 emissions• Low engine noise• High fuel economy• Diesel engines running on 100% DME have demonstrated

smoke free combustion

DME Safety

• Used for decades in the personal care industry • DME is non-carcinogenic, non-mutagenic and

virtually non-toxic.• Like other fuels, DME is highly flammable but has

proven to be extremely safe when handled properly.

Dimethyl Ether (DME) Properties

Block Flow Diagram for DME Production

Economics

DME Benefits Process Reactions

(1) 2H2 + CO CH3OH

(2) 3H2 + CO2 CH3OH + H2O

(3) 2CH3OH C2H6O + H2O

Opportunity for Natural Gas

1. Decoupling of Natural Gas and Oil prices2. Natural Gas as potential transport fuel3. What form to distribute?

• CNG ( 300 psi)• LNG (Cryogenic )• Fisher-Tropsch Diesel• DME ( 87 psi )

4. DME is easier to handle

Molecular formula C2H6OMolar mass 46.1 lb/moleAppearance Colorless gas

Density 0.120 lb/ft^3Boiling point -11 °F

Methanol to DME

H-106

H-104

H-102

500 F938 psia

140 F29 psia

708 F141 psia

500 F29 psia

482 F145 psia

149 F150 psia

148 F14.5 psia

158 F22 psia

500 F938 psia

528 F870 psia

77 F15 psia

220 F319 psia

158 F319 psia

286 F943 psia

H-101

H-103

158 F319 psia

2

Cooling Water

Process Steam

3

4

CW PS

MethanolReactor

SyngasFeed

1MSC

6

8

7

9

D-101

C-104C-104

MSC

WasteTreatment

H-105AP-102

1817

16

D-103D-102

H-107V-102

5 140 F315 psia

15

229 F319 psia 14

228 F30 psia13

228 F20 psia 12

228 F20 psia

11

196 F26 psia

10

133 F26 psia 24

209 F30.5 psia

23

269 F87 psia 22

78 F87 psia

25

158 F97 psia 21

708 F102 psia

20

19

DME

Methanol Unit

DMEUnit

Methanol

DMEReactor

Total Installed Cost $80,000,000.00

Salaries and Fringes $2,335,200.00

Revenues $87,062,850.00

Simple Payback (years) 0.9