The study of process design for production of the clean fuel - Dimethyl ether (DME)

You Syuan Chen, Jyun Da Lin, Jhen Ren Lee, An Li Shieu, Jing Jie Lan, Gow Bin Wang*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

It is known that dimethyl ether (DME) has wide application, such as solvent, propellant, chemical intermediate, refrigerant replacement, LPG substitute and transportation fuel. Furthermore, DME has currently attracted considerable attention as an alternative clean fuel for diesel engines because it can emit much less pollutants such as CO, NOx and particulates. Traditionally, in industrial processes, DME is produced by dehydration of methanol using acidic porous catalyst. Methanol is commercially synthesized from CO/CO2 hydrogenation over Cu-based catalyst. Thus one can prepare DME from synthesis gas (syngas) in a two-step process of syngas to methanol and further to DME, or in a single-step process of synthesis gas direct to DME. Due to attracting attention of the DME synthesis research, this work first uses commercial process simulators to analyze different DME synthesized methods presented in the literature. The optimal operating conditions for DME direct synthesis are then clearly evaluated. Finally, a feasible process flow diagram for the direct DME process is developed to meet the desired production specifications. These steady-state simulation results are demonstrated to fit with those shown in the literature.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAIChE100 - 2008 AIChE Annual Meeting, Conference Proceedings
StatePublished - 2008
Event2008 AIChE Annual Meeting, AIChE 100 - Philadelphia, PA, United States
Duration: 16 11 200821 11 2008

Publication series

NameAIChE Annual Meeting, Conference Proceedings

Conference

Conference2008 AIChE Annual Meeting, AIChE 100
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityPhiladelphia, PA
Period16/11/0821/11/08

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