Abstract
Dimethyl Ether (DME) is a clean and economical alternative fuel which can be produced from various resources as natural gas, coal or biomass through synthesis gas. The properties of DME are similar to those of LPG and it can be used for various fields ; power generation fuel, transportation fuel, home fuel, etc.
An innovative process of direct synthesis of DME from synthesis gas has been developed. Newly developed catalyst in a slurry phase reactor gave a high conversion and high selectivity of DME. After pilot scale plant (5 tons/day) testing, demonstration plant (100 tons/day) testing has been successfully carried out since 2002 with the Japanese government support. Various utilization technologies for DME have been developed and feasibility studies of DME Fuel Chain (Production, transportation and utilization) indicate that DME is competitive to conventional fuels. Commercialization projects of DME fuel are underway.
