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DME - An Alternate Fuel to Diesel for

Power Generation in the Caribbean

Frank Look Kin, Stefan Roach, Kenichi Nakamura

ABSTRACT WHAT IS DME ?
Dimethyl ether (DME) is one of the derivatives of methanol Dimethyl ether (DME), with the chemical structure
that has been used as an aerosol propellant for more CH3OCH3 and the molecular weight 46.07, has the
than 50 years. The characteristics of DME has attracted smallest number of carbon atoms of all ethers. The boiling
attention as a substitute fuel to Liquefied Petroleum Gas point of DME is -25 oC, and DME is a gas at ambient
(LPG) and Diesel. temperature and air pressure. DME can, however, be
Caribbean Gas Chemical Limited a joint-venture company liquefied at 20 oC and about 5 atmospheres, and it
is currently developing a project to produce DME in can be transported in a normal temperature pressurized
Trinidad & Tobago by 2016. Since DME can be derived container. LPG technology can be used for the storage
from natural gas it has the potential of being a lower cost and handling of DME.
and environmental friendly fuel substitute to Diesel for The heating value per weight of liquid DME is 60 percent
power generation not only in Trinidad & Tobago but in the of LPG and 70 percent of diesel oil, while the heating
Caribbean. value per volume in that is 80 percent of LPG and 50
percent of diesel oil.
INTRODUCTION
Dimethyl ether (DME) is one of the derivatives of methanol DME is estimated to produce little PM (Particulate Matter)
that has been used as an aerosol propellant for more than generation in thecombustion processes because of its
50 years. However, DME is now attracting great attention good diffusive characteristics after introduction into the
as an energy source for the 21st century because of engine combustion chamber due to rapid vaporization,
its multiple sources, excellent physical and chemical lack of soot formation because it is an oxygen containing
properties and excellent storage properties. compound, and the lack of sulfur-ascribable PM since
In this paper we explain “What is DME ? , DME outlook, it contains no sulfur. DME seems to be suited as diesel
DME project in Trinidad & Tobago and substitute to Diesel engine fuel thanks to its relatively high cetane number (55).
for power generation.

INDUSTRY JOURNAL 14