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Examination of Dimethyl Ether as an Alternative Utility Fuel

Student:

Chris Frye

Sponsor:

Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., Program Manager - Peter J. A. Tijm

Objective:

 Determine the emissions formed in DME diffusion and premixed flames and compare to propane and n-butane

Approach:

Measurements were made of NO and CO emissions from DME, propane and n-butane flames using a water-cooled sampling probe and two burners: an annular co-flow diffusion flame burner and a premixed flame (McKenna style) burner.

Results:

Our results indicate that on all bases considered, DME demonstrated lower CO emission than propane and n-butane over a broad range of stoichiometries. NO production from DME was generally less than or similar to propane and n-butane over the same stoichiometric range. DME burns with a non-luminous flame and the DME flames were typically much more compact.