DIMETHYL ETHERAN ALTERNATIVE

FUEL

INTRODUCTION

World present oil resources may be wiped out

in 42 years
Need for clean and pollution free environment.
Diesel engine operated on DME fuel has low
combustion noise and low emission.
Fuel is economical and has many utilities.
Variety of choices for raw material sources

MANUFACTURING PROCESS
OF DME
Manufactured presently in two methods
1.Catalytic dehydration of methanol to DME
2CH3OH

CH3OCH3+H2O

2.Direct synthesis of DME

3CO +3H2

CH3OCH3+CO2

PROCESS FLOW OF LARGE

SCALE BENCH PLANT

CHARACTERISTICS OF DME
AS A FUEL

Gas at ambient temperature and atmospheric pressure.

Colourless clear liquid under six atmospheres.
Can be transported and stored as a liquid at low
temperatures.
No sulphur or nitrogen compounds and low toxicity.
No corrosive effect on metals.
Oxygenated fuel.
Combustion is not accompanied by black smoke or
soot.

PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL

PROPERTIES OF DME AND DIESEL

COMPARISION CHART
PROPERTY

Chemical Formula
Boiling Point(0c)
Liquid Density(gram/Cm3)
Liquid Viscosity (Cp)
Ignition Temperature(0c)
Cetane Number
Latent Heat Of Evaporation (KJ/Kg)
Low Heating Value (MJ/Kg)
% Wt Of Oxygen

DME
CH3-O-CH3
-24.9
0.668
0.15
235
55-60
460
28.43
34.8

DIESEL
C3H7
180-360
0.84
4.4-5.5
250
40-55
290
42.5
0

Combustion characteristics were compared with those of diesel engine.

A DME powered van was developed and its trial operation was carried out on
highway.

Diagram of fuel supply system of DME engine.

PERFORMANCE AND COMBUSTION

CHARACTERSTICS OF DME POWERED
VEHICLE

1.
2.
3.

Study was conducted on diesel engine using

DME as fuel.
Following parameters were optimised.
Plunger diameter.
Fuel delivery advance angle.
Distance of nozzle tip into cylinder.

OPTIMIZATION OF
PARAMETERS OF COMBUSTION
Fuel delivery advanced angle: optimal
timing is 190 CA BTDC at rated operation
conditions and 150 CA BTDC at low
speed
Thermal efficiency maximum at an
injection pressure of 15MPa

INJECTION PRESSURE: OPTIMUM

PRESSURE IS 15 MPA FOR DME

COMBUSTION
CHARACTERISTICS

Figure below shows indicator diagram and rate of

pressure rise of DME and diesel engine.

THE COMBUSTION CHARACTERISTICS

OF DME AND DIESEL FUEL ARE SHOWN
IN FIG BELOW

OPERATIONAL RESULTS OF
DME POWER VEHICLE

Noise is equivalent to gasoline vehicle below

90 km and smoke free combustion is realized.
Maximum speed and accelerating performance
are equivalent to that of diesel operation.
No apparent wear was observed by adding
some lubricant.
Larger amount of mechanical work and
smaller amount of wasted internal energy.

DME UTILISATION
TECHNOLOGY

The combustion of DME with municipal gas

13A was done and good combustion was
observed.

2.Used as a diesel fuel alternative

1. Ideal for use in diesel engines due to same

or higher cetane value.
2. Modifications to fuel supply system only is
needed.
3. Low soot emissions and greatly reduced
NOx emission
4. Thermal efficiency is similar to that of diesel.
5. Reduced noise levels.

APPLICATIONS
Used as an aerosol propellant.
Propellant for cosmetic and coating
material.
Can be used as fuel for power generation.
Raw material for chemical processes.

DISADVANTAGES OF DME
FUEL
1.
2.
3.

4.
5.

Poor Lubrication And Viscosity

Low Heating Value
No Infrastructure Of Fueling System Of
DME
High Vapour Pressure
Low Boiling Point

CONCLUSION
1. Excellent And Environmental Friendly Alternative Fuel
For Diesel Engine
2. Cost of the fuel is much lower than diesel fuel on an
equal basis.
3. Relative high cetane number and low soot emissions
offset the disadvantages of the fuel for the use in CI
engines.
4. It is hoped that the use of DME vehicles will become
widespread in the near future.