Abstract
Increasing attention has been focused on a new alternative fuel, DME (Dimethyl Ether), from the energy security and environmental aspects. Recently, direct synthesis process of DME from methane of coal mine and/or gasification gas of low-quality coal has been successfully developed in Japan. The physical properties of DME are, in principle, similar to LPG, except the ignition temperature, and thus DME has a merit of being able to use LPG handling technologies. In addition DME has rather high cetane number suited for clean Diesel fuel. This paper describes fundamental combustion test results conducted by using diffusion and premixed burners. Experimental results demonstrate high potential of DME as a boiler and gas-turbine fuel.
