francois bollon - dme: a sustainable alternative fuel for transportation

DME A sustainable alternative fuel for transportation

Franois BOLLONFRMB-ConsultingDME A sustainable alternative fuel for [email protected] Tel. +33-686075937

What is Dimethyl Ether (DME)? Dimethyl Ether (DME) is the simplest ether. Its formula is CH3-O-CH3A clean, colorless gas that is easy to liquefy and transport

An environmentally compatible propellant for spray cans A foaming agent for polystyrene insulating materialA low-boiling solvent, a refrigerant, a fuel for the production of ultra-pure glass

Close to LPG but with a good cetane number, DME is considered as a low CO2 fuel, which can be used as a clean burning alternative to LPG, LNG and diesel.

[email protected] Tel. +33-686075937SIEW - Natural Gas Uses in Transportation 25 October 2012

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DME properties and benefits


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DME properties and benefitsOn net energy content basis:1.6 kg of DME is equivalent to 1kg of LPG, 1.25 m3 of DME is equivalent to 1 m3 of LPG1.2 m3 of DME is equivalent to 1 m3 of diesel


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DME productionDME can be produced By methanol dehydration - 2 CH3OH CH3OCH3 + H2O the two-steps process (1,4 tons of methanol to produce 1 ton of DME)Or through direct synthesis the one-step process.

Wide range of resource utilization


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DME industry and development

Many companies are interested in DME: Methanex, Total, Volvo truck, Mitsubishi Gas Chemical, ENN, China Energy, Kogas, Aygas, but China represents most of the DME capacities in the world for DME as fuel.First use as an aerosol propellant (Akzo Nobel)


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DME usages


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DME as automotive fuelAs an automotive fuel, DME demonstrates a number of significant benefits:

Ultra low exhaust emissionsNo particulate matter (PM); very low NOx; no SOx)Low CO2emissionsLow engine noiseHigh fuel economyHigh well-to-wheel efficiencyThermal efficiency equivalent to diesel engine performanceIgnition characteristics equivalent to diesel engine performance

The reduction or elimination of particulate emissions, also commonly known as soot or black smoke, is an important benefit. A high cetane rating of 60 and a boiling point of -25C provide fast fuel/air mixing, reduced ignition delay, and excellent cold starting properties


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Japanese DME vehicle testsThe Japanese performed some tests of DME for transportation from 2003 to 2007 with 4 DME filling stations. At this period, they made 1,000 km with DME trucks.

They created the DME Vehicle Promotion Committee organized by 13 private companies whose Iwatani, Isuzu, Total Japan, Toyota Tsusho, JFE, Idemitsu Kosan, Japan DME in March 2006 in order to develop and research DME vehicles operation, DME fuel supply infrastructure and DME distributions and logistics.

From 2009, they launched some demonstration of DME Truck for commercial transport operation covering the full chain from production of DME to the utilisation in DME vehicles in Niigata and Kanto regions. Isuzu and Nissan Diesel made DME trucks for commercial use.


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Japanese DME vehicle testsDME Vehicles Demonstration (commercial use)


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Chinese DME vehicle testsDME buses tests in Shanghai: the line #147In 2010


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The European Bio-DME projectThe project was launched in 2008 and is coming to an end in December this year.


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The European Bio-DME projectA consortium of Chemrec, Haldor Topse, Volvo, Preem, Total, Delphi and ETC. The project is supported by the Swedish Energy Agency and the EU's Seventh Framework Programme. The total budget is: 28.4 million including EU funding for 8.2 million and the Swedish Energy Agency for 9.5 million.DME produced from black liquor from the paper and pulp mill of Smurfit Kappa in Pite (North of Sweden)a fleet consisting of 10 Volvo trucksfour DME filling stations: Stockholm, Jnkping, Gteborg and PiteThe four-year project has already demonstrated that DME works in daily commercial operations, with 10 Volvo trucks in use by a number of haulage firms already having driven 400,000 km on bio-DME


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The Spireth project


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The Spireth projectObjectives identify the best and most effective way for the shipping industry to comply with the upcoming regulations regarding emissionsDevelop and install an onboard process for the conversion of methanol to DMEInstall auxiliary engine adopted for operation on DMEVerify rule compliance, function and endurance

BenefitsMethanol can be made available in principle everywhereMethanol energy cost lower than for Marine Gas OilMethanol-DME operation will fulfill tier 3 NOx requirements without after treatmentThe cost for conversion and/or adaption to methanol is a fraction of the comparable cost for LNG


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Future of DME for transportationOpportunities

a high cetane number, a quiet combustiona clean burning fuel (no soot, no smoke, no particles and 100% SOx reduction)can be used in conventional diesel engines with a modified fuel injection system. storage tanks same as the ones of LPG for vehicles with small modificationsa large market.


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Future of DME for transportationChallenges

Some technical and regulatory hurdles remainrequires some appropriated lubricating agentneed probably a specific lubricantviscosity is lower than the one of diesel, we must prevent possible leakageLPG-like infrastructure, which must be set up most of the time from scratchneeds governments appropriated government support and regulations.


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Future of DME for transportationDriver for DME

The big driver for DME today is the tighter emissions control. DME is one of the lowest cost ways to meet the tighter emissions regulations (like the Spireth project). Besides the low cost of the fuel it also allows vehicles, power plants, ships to meet the tighter emission regulations without expensive exhaust gas after-treatment devices.


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DME: the cleanest diesel alternative

DMECetane No.HighCleanness (PM, S, NOx)

DMEMethanolCNGLPGEthanolDieselBiodieselGTL DieselHigh Octane GasolineRegularGasolineFor gasoline type enginesFor diesel enginesLowHigh


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DME investments and costsDME production costs are presently around USD 540 to 595 per metric ton (whose USD 490 to 545 come from the methanol cost)DME plants: around 15 millions Euro for a capacity of 80,000 tons of DME per year (Europe, Japan or USA - cheaper in China)In the bio-DME project, the cost of a filling station was around 200,000 (instead of 120,000 for a filling station with diesel)Regarding DME trucks, injection equipment and fuel tanks are more expensive but we gain on the lower pressure and the exhaust after-treatment. The real challenge is to get through the valley of death(i.e. the initial low volumes)


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DME and natural gasAs the investments for DME production are much lower than the ones of a LNG chain and as it can be easily stored in LPG storage with few modifications, DME is a good solution for stranded gasDME requires limited capital investment versus LNG, less costs for liquefaction and re-gas, can be used in small quantities and does not need a large consumption base to support the supply. As there is no methane slip compared to LNG so there is less GHG impact


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DME versus CNGCNG vehicles suffer from:

Reduced compression ratio with lower thermal efficiencyHigh unburned CH4 emissionsCombination of high CH4 emissions and reduced efficiency eliminates the H/C ratio benefit of CNG over diesel fuel with respect to CO2 eqv emissions


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DME versus CNGWhy consider DME for transportation instead of CNG? Because it makes sense on many levels

Higher energy density than CNGWill not vent due to evaporation over timeDoes not need cryogenic storageEase of refueling (no venting, no compressors)Diesel engine efficiencyUltra low emissions with simple emissions controlsRepresents in most cases an increase in the value of natural gas


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Franois BOLLONFRMB-CONSULTING

Contact:[email protected]. +33-686075937Thank you for your attention


Feuil1Liquefies at -25C or under 6 atmospheresCan be stored and transported just like LPGHigher cetane number than dieselCan be used in diesel enginesCompletely safe with no adverse impact on healthNo problems expanding useHazard equivalent to LPGDecomposes in the atmosphere in several ten of hoursNo concern over ozone layer depletion (alternative to CFCs)No sulfur contentNo particulate matter (PM) or soot emission from combustionNo direct carbon bonds (CH3-O-CH3)Lower temperature catalytic reforming than gasolineBetter fuel for fuel cells

Feuil2

Feuil3

francois bollon - dme: a sustainable alternative fuel for transportation

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