Dimethyl ether (DME) as an alternative fuel
Abstract
With ever growing concerns on environmental pollution, energy security, and future oil supplies, the global community is seeking non-petroleum based alternative fuels, along with more advanced energy technologies (e.g., fuel cells) to increase the efficiency of energy use. The most promising alternative fuel will be the fuel that has the greatest impact on society. The major impact areas include well-to-wheel greenhouse gas emissions, non-petroleum feed stocks, well-to-wheel efficiencies, fuel versatility, infrastructure, availability, economics, and safety. Compared to some of the other leading alternative fuel candidates (i.e., methane, methanol, ethanol, and Fischer-Tropsch fuels), dimethyl ether appears to have the largest potential impact on society, and should be considered as the fuel of choice for eliminating the dependency on petroleum.
DME can be used as a clean high-efficiency compression ignition fuel with reduced NO x, SO x, and particulate matter, it can be efficiently reformed to hydrogen at low temperatures, and does not have large issues with toxicity, production, infrastructure, and transportation as do various other fuels. The literature relevant to DME use is reviewed and summarized to demonstrate the viability of DME as an alternative fuel.- Publication:
-
Journal of Power Sources
- Pub Date:
- 2006
- DOI:
- 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2005.05.082
- Bibcode:
- 2006JPS...156..497S
- Keywords:
-
- Bio;
- biomass;
- CGH2;
- compressed gaseous hydrogen;
- CI;
- compression ignition;
- CIDI;
- compression ignition direct injection;
- CNG;
- compressed natural gas;
- CP;
- central processing plant;
- DI;
- direct injection;
- DME;
- dimethyl ether;
- Eq;
- equivalent;
- EtOH;
- ethanol;
- EU;
- European Union;
- FC;
- fuel cell;
- FPFC;
- fuel processor fuel cell;
- FRFG2;
- federal phase 2 reformulated gasoline;
- FT;
- Fischer-Tropsch;
- FTD;
- Fischer-Tropsch diesel;
- FTN;
- Fischer-Tropsch naptha;
- GV;
- gasoline vehicle;
- HEV;
- hybrid electric vehicle;
- HTD;
- hydro deoxygenation/hydrothermal upgrading;
- ICE;
- internal combustion engine;
- LH2;
- liquefied hydrogen;
- LHV;
- lower heating value;
- LNG;
- liquefied natural gas;
- LPG;
- liquefied petroleum gas;
- M90;
- 90% methanol-10% water;
- MeOH;
- methanol;
- MTA;
- automatic transmission;
- NG;
- natural gas;
- Petrol;
- petroleum;
- PP;
- poplar plantation;
- RFD;
- reformulated diesel (S < 10 ppm);
- RFG;
- reformulated gasoline (S < 10 ppm);
- RS;
- residual straw;
- RWB;
- residual woody biomass;
- S;
- sulfur;
- SB;
- sugar beets;
- SI;
- spark ignited;
- SIDI;
- spark ignited direct injection;
- 35VT;
- compressed hydrogen delivered to a 35 MPa vehicle tank