NEW CLEAN F U E L FROM COAL- DIMETHYL E T H E R

y. O h n o , T . S h i k a d a , T . O g a w a , M.Ono a n d M.Mizuguchi ,NKK C o r p o r a t i o n , T o k y o

100 a n d K.Fujimoto , T h e U n i v e r s i t y of Tokyo,Tokyo 1l 3 , J a p a n

Keywords: D i m e t h y l e t h e r , Coal, C l e a n fuel

1. I n t r o d u c t i o n
I n A s i a n c o u n t r i e s a n d r e g i o n s i n c l u d i n g C h i n a , ASEAN a n d N I E S , h i g h s p e e d
economic g r o w t h i s s p u r r i n g a r a p i d i n c r e a s e i n e n e r g y c o n s u m p t i o n , w h i c h
m e a n s t h a t t h e r e i s a h i g h p r o b a b i l i t y of t h i s p a r t of t h e world e v e n t u a l l y f a c i n g
111 a t i g h t e n e r g y s u p p l y a n d d e m a n d s i t u a t i o n a n d [2] s e r i o u s e n v i r o n m e n t a l
p r o b l e m s (CO2,SOx. NOx. e t c . ) .
O n t h e e n e r g y s u p p l y s i d e , a n i n c r e a s e i s f o r e c a s t i n t h e t o t a l volume of c r u d e o i l
a n d oil p r o d u c t s i m p o r t e d from t h e middle e a s t a n d o t h e r p r o d u c t i o n r e g i o n s
o u t s i d e t h i s p a r t of A s i a , b u t i t will be n e c e s s a r y t o a l s o u s e u n e x p l o i t e d e n e r g y
r e s o u r c e s a s l i g n i t e , s u b - b i t u m i n o u s coal, coal b e d m e t h a n e a n d u n e x p l o i t e d
s m a l l d e p o s i t s of n a t u r a l g a s w i t h i n t h e region.
Looking a t t h e e n v i r o n m e n t a l p r e s e r v a t i o n s i t u a t i o n , t o d e a l w i t h e x i s t i n g solid
p o l l u t a n t s o u r c e s s u c h a s r e l a t i v e l y l a r g e e l e c t r i c power p l a n t s a n d
f a c t o r i e s , d e s u l f u r i z a t i o n a n d d e n i t r i f i c a t i o n p l a n t s a r e effective. F o r t h e
c o n s u m p t i o n of f u e l i n r e s i d e n t i a l a n d c o m m e r c i a l s e c t o r a n d t r a n s p o r t a t i o n
s e c t o r , a s t h e s o u r c e s of p o l l u t a n t s a r e widely d i s p e r s e d , m e a s u r e s t o c l e a n t h e .
f u e l i t s e l f m u s t be t a k e n .
F o r e c a s t s of s h a r p r i s e s i n d e m a n d for t h e c l e a n fuels, n a t u r a l g a s (LNG) a n d
L P G , h a v e a r o u s e d f e a r s of a j u m p i n t h e p r i c e s of t h e s e p r o d u c t s . F o r t h i s r e a s o n ,
t h e p r o d u c t i o n of d i m e t h y l e t h e r (DME)--a c l e a n fuel a s c o n v e n i e n t t o t r a n s p o r t
a s L P G - - b y s y n t h e s i z i n g from g a s o b t a i n e d by coal gasification a t coal m i n e f o r
s h i p m e n t t o u s e r s i n t h e s u r r o u n d i n g c o u n t r i e s a n d r e g i o n s is e x t r e m e l y
s i g n i f i c a n t from t h e p o i n t of view of e n v i r o n m e n t a l p r e s e r v a t i o n .
R e c e n t l y , t h e DME s y n t h e s i s from H2lCO h a s b e e n s t u d i e d for coproduction w i t h
m e t h a n o l t o i n c r e a s e t h e p r o d u c t i v i t y beyond t h e m e t h a n o l e q u i l i b r i u m ( 3 , 4 ) .
NKK, which h a s b e e n s t u d y i n g t h e s y n t h e s i s of DME from H2lCO s i n c e 1989 ( 1 , 2 ) ,
i s now c o n d u c t i n g r e s e a r c h on a 50kglday b e n c h p l a n t .
I n t h i s r e p o r t , we p r e s e n t a n overview of t h e physical p r o p e r t i e s , u s e s a n d
s y n t h e s i s r e a c t i o n of DME, a n d a n e s t i m a t i o n t o commercial p l a n t of DME.
2. P h y s i c a l P r o p e r t i e s a n d U s e s of DME
2.1 P h y s i c a l P r o p e r t i e s of DME
T a b l e 1 s h o w s t h e p h y s i c a l p r o p e r t i e s a n d combustion c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of D M E
a n d v a r i o u s f u e l s . D M E , a colorless g a s w i t h a boiling p o i n t of - 2 5 c , i s
chemically s t a b l e a n d e a s i l y liquefied. W i t h p r o p e r t i e s s i m i l a r t o t h o s e of
p r o p a n e a n d b u t a n e , w h i c h a r e p r i n c i p a l c o n s t i t u e n t s of LPG, i t c a n be h a n d l e d
a n d s t o r e d u s i n g t h e s a m e technology u s e d t o h a n d l e a n d s t o r e L P G .
While its n e t calorific v a l u e of 6.903kcallkg i s lower t h a n t h a t of p r o p a n e , b u t a n e ,
a n d m e t h a n e , i t i s h i g h e r t h a n t h a t of m e t h a n o l . I n g a s e o u s s t a t e , i t s n e t calorific
v a l u e i s 14,200 k c a l l N m 3 , w h i c h i s h i g h e r t h a n t h a t of m e t h a n e . T u r n i n g t o i t s
c o m b u s t i o n p r o p e r t i e s , i t s explosion l i m i t i s wider t h a n t h o s e of p r o p a n e a n d
b u t a n e , b u t a l m o s t i d e n t i c a l t o t h a t of m e t h a n e a n d n a r r o w e r t h a n t h a t of
m e t h a n o l . I t s c e t a n e n u m b e r i s h i g h , r a n g i n g from 55 t o 60, so t h a t i t c a n be u s e d
i n d i e s e l e n g i n e s . A c t u a l e n g i n e t e s t s show t h a t i t s f u e l c o n s u m p t i o n r a t e i s
lower t h a n t h a t of d i e s e l oil a t t h e s a m e NOx level a n d confirm t h a t i t i s a n
e x t r e m e l y c l e a n f u e l , g e n e r a t i n g a n e x t r e m e l y s m a l l q u a n t i t y of soot(5). I t s
f l a m e is a visible b l u e f l a m e s i m i l a r t o t h a t of n a t u r a l g a s , a n d i t c a n b e u s e d j u s t
a s it i s i n a n L P G cooking s t o v e , a n d i t does n o t p r o d u c e a l d e h y d e .
A t o x i c i t y s t u d y of i t s u s e a s a p r o p e l l a n t for s p r a y c a n s t o r e p l a c e f l u o r o c a r b o n s
h a s c o n f i r m e d t h a t i t s toxicity i s e x t r e m e l y low; a b o u t t h e s a m e a s t h a t of LPG
( 6 ) . T h e s t u d y h a s s h o w n t h a t t h e toxicity of DME i s e v e n lower t h a n t h a t of
methanol.
Table 1 Physical Properties and combustion characteristics of DME and other fuels
Properties DME Propane n-Butane Methane Methanol
Chemical formula CH,OCH, GH. CHm CH. CH,OH
Boiling point (9)) -25.1 42.0 -0.5 -161.5 64.6
Liquid density (p/cm', 209)) 0.67 0.49 0.57 - 0.79
Specific gravity (vs. air) 1.59 1.52 2.00 0.55 -
Heat of vaporization (kcal/kg) 111.7 101.8 92.1 121.9 262
Saturated vapor pressure (am, 259)) 6.1 9.3 2.4 246 -
Burning velocity (cds) 50 43 41 37 52
Ignition energy (1O"J) 45 30 76 33 21
Ignition temperature (C) 350 504 430 632 470
Explosion limil (%) 3.4-17 2.1-9.4 1.9-8.4 5-15 5.5-36
Cetane number 55-60 (5) (10) 0 5
Net calorific value (kcal/Nm') 14,200 21.800 28.300 8,600 -
Net calorific value (kcalka) 6.903 11,100 10.930 12.000 5.040
It does not corrode m e t a l b u t i t does corrode r u b b e r type s e a l a n t , s o t h e s e
m a t e r i a l s m u s t be s e l e c t e d carefully ( 6 ) .
2.2 U s e s of DME
S o m e i s used a s s o l v e n t s , r e f r i g e r a n t s , e t c . , b u t most i s used a s a propellant
( p a i n t , chemical f e r t i l i z e r s , cosmetics), with 8,000 tonslyear produced i n J a p a n
a n d about 100,000t o n s l y e a r produced world wide. Its only u s e a s a f u e l h a s been
a s a n i n t e r m e d i a t e p r o d u c t d u r i n g t h e conversion to s y n t h e t i c gasoline, b u t t o
t a k e a d v a n t a g e of i t s p r o p e r t i e s s i m i l a r to t h o s e of LPG, China h a s begun
producing DME by d e h y d r a t i o n r e a c t i o n of methanol a s a fuel s u b s t i t u t e for LPG .
T a b l e 2 shows p o t e n t i a l u s e s of DME a s a fuel a n d t h e energy i t will replace.
W h e n i t is possible t o produce i t cheaply from coal o r n a t u r a l gas, i t will be used
widely a s a c l e a n f u e l which i s a s convenient to t r a n s p o r t a s LPG.
Table2 Potential use of DME as substitute fuel
Transportation : diesel oil
Domestic use : coal ,coal briquette ,fuel gas from coal ,natural gas , LFG
Power generation : coal , natural gas, heavy oil , LPG

3. S y n t h e s i s of DME
3.1 DME S y n t h e s i s Reaction
T a b l e 3 shows t h e r e a c t i o n s concerning DME s y n t h e s i s a n d t h e h e a t of reaction.
As s h o w n i n T a b l e 3, t h e D M E s y n t h e s i s reaction (e) from H2/CO c o n s i s t s of t h r e e
s t e p s : t h e m e t h a n o l s y n t h e s i s r e a c t i o n (a), t h e dehydration reaction(b), a n d t h e
s h i f t r e a c t i o n (c). W i t h o u t t h e s h i f t r e a c t i o n , t h e reaction can be c a r r i e d o u t
following t h e f o r m u l a ( d ) which i s given by combining reactions (a) and(b).
Because g e n e r a l l y t h e m e t h a n o l s y n t h e s i s c a t a l y s t encourages t h e s h i f t
reaction(c), t h e t o t a l r e a c t i o n is likely t o proceed between (d) formula a n d (e)
formula.
Because t h e t o t a l r e a c t i o n i s highly exothermic, if t h e excess reaction h e a t i s not
efficiently removed a n d t h e r e a c t i o n t e m p e r a t u r e i s not carefully controlled,
t h e r e i s a r i s k of t h e c a t a l y s t d e a c t i v a t i o n by t h e rising t e m p e r a t u r e .
Table 3 Reaction concerning DME synthesis and reaction heat
Reaction Reaction heat
(kcallmol-DME)
(a) 2C0+4H2 + 2CH,OH + 43.4
(b) 2CH,OH + CH,OCH,+H,O + 5.6
(e) CO+H,O + CO,+H, + 9.8
(d) 2C0+4H, + CH,OCH,+H,O + 49.0
(e) 3C0+3H2 + CH,OCH,+CO, + 58.8
F i g u r e 1 shows how t h e (H2 + CO) loo
+ co,
e q u i l i b r i u m conversion for t h e s e t w o
D M E s y n t h e s i s r e a c t i o n f o r m u l a e (d)
a n d (e) a n d m e t h a n o l s y n t h e s i s
-
( ~ ) c H ~ o c H ~
(d) 4H, + 2CO CH30CH3+ HzO

reaction(a) v a r i e s a s f u n c t i o n of
t h e i n i t i a l H2/CO r a t i o a n d r e a c t i o n
pressure. In each reaction ,the 'E
e q u i l i b r i u m conversion h a s its p e a k 8
w h e r e t h e H2/CO r a t i o of t h e r e a c t a n t 8 40 -
gas corresponds to the stoichiometric
v a l u e , t h a t i s , H2/CO = 2 ( r e a c t i o n (d)
+, ,_,_._. ~

a n d reaction(a)) a n d w i t h H 2 / C O = 1
(reaction(e)). T h e e q u i l i b r i u m conversion ' (a) CO + 2H,- CH,OH
of DME i s h i g h e r t h a n t h a t of m e t h a n o l .
For DME s y n t h e s i s , t h e m a x i m u m value 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5
of t h e e q u i l i b r i u m conversion i s h i g h e r
Initial H,/CO ratio
f o r t h e r e a c t i o n f o r m u l a (e). T h i s clearly
i n d i c a t e s t h e significance of t h e fact Fig.1 Equiliblium (H,+CO) conversion to DMEor
t h a t t h e s h i f t r e a c t i o n (c) proceeds i n methanol as function of initial H2/C0 ratio
r e s p o n s e t o reaction (a) a n d r e a c t i o n (b). andpressure
3.2 S l u r r y Bed R e a c t o r
T h e r e a c t o r t y p e s f o r c a t a l y t i c r e a c t i o n a r e categorized i n fixed bed, fluidized bed
a n d s l u r r y bed. Because DME s y n t h e s i s reaction i s highly exothermic, a fluidized
b e d a n d a s l u r r y bed r e a c t o r a r e recommended. T h e i r h e a t t r a n s f e r c h a r a c t e r i s t i c
is s o excellent t h a t t h e t e m p e r a t u r e d i s t r i b u t i o n in t h e reactor is f l a t a n d t h a t
t h e s t r u c t u r e of r e a c t o r c a n be s i m p l e .
A s l u r r y bed does n o t r e s t r i c t t h e s h a p e a n d mechanical s t r e n g t h of t h e c a t a l y s t
c o m p a r e d w i t h a fluidized b e d . T h e c a t a l y s t i n t h e s l u r r y bed can be easily
exchanged b y s l u r r y pomp w i t h o u t d i s t u r b i n g t h e operation when t h e a c t i v i t y of
c a t a l y s t decreases. B u t i n t h e s l u r r y bed, t h e solubility i n t h e solvent of t h e
w a t e r g e n e r a t e d on t h e d e h y d r a t i o n c a t a l y s t is low, t h e most of w a t e r e m e r g e s
directly i n t o t h e g a s b u b b l e s a n d t h e r e i s a s t r o n g tendency for i t t o emerge from
t h e r e a c t o r w i t h o u t r e a c t i n g with t h e CO, a n d overall, t h e CO conversion
becomes low. So a d d i n g a s h i f t r e a c t i o n function t o t h e dehydration c a t a l y s t t o

706
 convert g e n e r a t e d w a t e r w i t h t h e C O immediately t o H 2 a n d C 0 2 h a s been
designed. Because H 2 h a s high solubility a n d diffusion r a t e in t h e solvent, i t i s
consumed by t h e m e t h a n o l s y n t h e s i s reaction, a n d overall i t i s possible t o o b t a i n
a high CO conversion ( 1 , 2 ) .
3.3 DME S y n t h e s i s Reaction T e s t
A bench scale e x p e r i m e n t was performed based on b e a k e r scale r e s e a r c h ( 1 , 2 ) . An
outline of t h e t e s t p l a n t is p r e s e n t e d i n F i g u r e 2 . T h e reactor i s a s l u r r y bed
bubble tower w i t h a n i n t e r n a l d i a m e t e r of 90 mm and a height of 2 m. T h e p l a n t
capacity is of 5 0 kglday of DME. F i g u r e 3 a n d F i g u r e 4 p r e s e n t , a s examples of
t h e r e s u l t s of t h e e x p e r i m e n t , t h e CO conversion a n d selectivity of a l l
c o n s t i t u e n t s of t h e product ( C 0 2 i s excluded a n d t h e t o t a l of DME, m e t h a n o l ,
C H 4 i s considered t o 100%) produced i n one t h r o u g h operation. T h e r e i s no o t h e r
heavy byproduct t h a n m e t h a n o l a n d m e t h a n e .
bent

-
co

HI

make-up
make-up gas
massflow
controller
: CO. ti may. 50 0 /mm
reactor net dimention : 90 mmb X 2,000 mmH
DME reactor
' $ 7
waterhethanol DME

Fig.2 Flow diagram of Bench Plant

- 100

;
-
3
80
t i-t---HI DUE
:30 atm
I

60
._
e
0

$ 40 tt !I ! !I ' ! ' II
Imethanoll
0 : 60 atm

:
U
20

0
240 260 280 300 320 340 240 260 280 300 320 340
temperature [ t I temperature [ t ]

Fig. 3 CO conversion as function of temperature Fig. 4 Product selectivity a s function of

and pressure(one.through,make-upH2/CO=1) temperature and pressure

T h e CO conversion r i s e s a s t h e 'F
t e m p e r a t u r e climbs, a n d i t h a s
t h e m a x i m u m value. T h i s i s
40
considered t o r e p r e s e n t t h e
effect of t h e e q u i l i b r i u m CO conversion
30
restrictions caused a s the F 25
conversion a p p r o a c h e s t h e
equilibrium a n d of t h e fall i n DME yi el d
t h e solubility of t h e r e a c t i o n 6 15
' p 10
gas a s the temperature rises.
A CO conversion g r e a t e r t h a n
50% a n d a DME selectivity i n V 0 100 ZOO 300 400 500 600 700
excess of 90% were o b t a i n e d
a t a p r e s s u r e of 50 a t m a n d Time on Stream hr]
a t e m p e r a t u r e of 300c.
As for t h e c a t a l y s t life, a s Fig. 5 Catalyst activity as function of time on stream
shown in Figure 5 ,during (H2/CO=1,280g,30atm,WIF=12g-~at hr/mol)
,oo hours of consecutive
t e s t i n g , no d e a c t i v a t i o n w a s
observed.

707

k
4. S y n t h e s i s of D M E from C o a l a n d N a t u r a l G a s a n d i t s U s e s
4 . 1 D M E S y n t h e s i s P r o c e s s Flow
F i g u r e 6 s h o w s a block d i a g r a m t o produce DME from coal. B e c a u s e t h e H2/CO
r a t i o of s y n t h e s i s g a s o b t a i n e d by t h e coal gasification r a n g e s from 0 . 5 t o 1.0, t h e
g a s c o m p o s i t i o n i s a d j u s t e d by t h e s h i f t r e a c t i o n s o t h a t H2/CO = 1, a n d i t i s t h e n
s u p p l i e d for D M E s y n t h e s i s . I n t h i s s y n t h e s i s s t e p w h e r e t h e r e a c t i o n (e)
(H2/CO=1) i s a c h i e v e d , t h e d i f f e r e n c e of HWCO r a t i o t o be a d j u s t e d i s s o n a r r o w
i n c o m p a r i s o n w i t h t h e r e a c t i o n ( d ) (H2/CO=2) t h a t t h e e q u i p m e n t s i z e a n d u t i l i t y
consumption for t h e shift conversion step a r e smaller.
T h e e f f l u e n t from t h e s l u r r y r e a c t o r i s cooled a n d chilled i n o r d e r t o s e p a r a t e t h e
l i q u i d p h a s e ( DME , CO2 a n d s m a l l a m o u n t of m e t h a n o l a n d w a t e r ) from t h e
g a s e o u s p h a s e c o n t a i n i n g u n r e a c t e d H2 a n d CO. M o s t of t h e s e p a r a t e d g a s is
recycled t o t h e r e a c t o r . B e c a u s e t h e o n e - t h r o u g h r e a c t i o n r a t e i s h i g h , t h e
r e c y c l e r a t i o is s u f f i c i e n t a t 1 : l . A f t e r C 0 2 r e m o v a l , t h e p r o d u c t DME is
o b t a i n e d by r e m o v i n g t h e i m p u r e w a t e r a n d m e t h a n o l t o a r e q u i r e d level.
I n c a s e of n a t u r a l g a s , i t c a n b e c o n v e r t e d t o s y n t h e s i s g a s of H U C O = 1 by m e a n s
of C 0 2 r e f o r m i n g a n d u s e d t o t h e D M E s y n t h e s i s .
coal bed methane
I (UI

H2/CO=0.5- 1
&-
Fig. 6 DME synthesis from coal derived synthesis gas

4.2 U s e s of DME
It i s e x p e c t e d t h a t D M E will b e i n t r o d u c e d a s a L P G - l i k e home use fuel t o r e p l a c e t
c o a l a n d coal b r i q u e t t e a n d a s a n e n g i n e fuel t o r e p l a c e t h e l i g h t oil u s e d i n d i e s e l
engines in China, India, Indonesia, a n d other heavily populated countries with
rich coal resources.
I n J a p a n , 2 5 m i l l i o n t o n s of non.coking coal i s i m p o r t e d t o J a p a n t o be c o n s u m e d
i n e l e c t r i c power p l a n t s . I t is f o r e c a s t e d t h a t t h e f u t u r e c o n s t r u c t i o n of m o r e
c o a l . b u r n i n g power p l a n t s will be accompanied by a n i n c r e a s e in t h e a m o u n t of
c o a l c o n s u m e d f o r t h i s p u r p o s e t o 57 million t o n s l y e a r by 2005; t h r e e t i m e s a s
much a s t h a t is consumed now.
In A s i a n r e g i o n b e s i d e s J a p a n , t h e e l e c t r i c i t y d e m a n d i s expected t o i n c r e a s e a t
a r a t e of 7 . 8 % / y e a r a n d t h e c o a l c o n s u m p t i o n for power p l a n t will be i m m e n s e a n d
t h e e n v i r o n m e n t a l p o l l u t i o n w i l l be a g g r a v a t e d .
A c o n c e p t of a s y s t e m i n w h i c h c o a l i s gasified a n d c o n v e r t e d t o DME a t c o a l m i n e ,
t h e n t r a n s p o r t e d t o f i n a l c o n s u m p t i o n a r e a a s J a p a n for u s e i n e l e c t r i c power
p r o d u c t i o n h a s b e e n c r e a t e d as s h o w n i n F i g u r e 7 . T h i s s y s t e m would p r o v i d e t h e
following p o t e n t i a l b e n e f i t s i n c o m p a r i s o n w i t h t h e c o n v e n t i o n a l coal flow.
A t coal m i n e , [ l ] c o a l i s p r e p a r e d t o r e d u c e t r a n s p o r t a t i o n c o s t s a n d provide
a s s u r a n c e of s u f f i c i e n t q u a l i t y , b u t coal p r e p a r a t i o n would be u n n e c e s s a r y a n d
a l l could be u s e d effectively. [2] I t would be possible t o u s e l o w q u a l i t y coal, for
e x a m p l e , l i g n i t e c o a l w i t h h i g h m o i s t u r e c o n t e n t or i n f l a m m a b l e coal w h i c h i s
i n a d e q u a t e t o t h e t r a n s p o r t a t i o n . [3]Coal bed m e t h a n e produced a s a b y p r o d u c t
of c o a l m i n i n g i s g e n e r a l l y a n u n e x p l o i t e d e n e r g y r e s o u r c e . A s i t h a s a h i g h e r
g r e e n h o u s e effect t h a n CO2, i t s p r o p e r t r e a t m e n t will be n e c e s s a r y . A l t h o u g h
t h e c o a l bed m e t h a n e g e n e r a t i o n v a r i e s o v e r t i m e , i t could be u s e d effectively by
i n j e c t i n g i t i n t o t h e coal g a s i f i c a t i o n r e a c t o r i n which t h e m e t h a n e i s r e f o r m e d t o
synthesis gas.
coal bed methane
(flowof DME power genaration)

condition .OME 2,500 Vd (oversea)

' 500,000k W power plant
...!5.~.!s..bi!ri?n.yen~~ .____________.
DME production i.P!!!!!o?!..
: OME cost
power genaration cost
--
2.2 2.9 yen/103 kcal
8.2 9.4 yen/kWh

708
 A t t h e t r a n s p o r t a t i o n s t a g e , [ l ] i t could be h a n d l e d i n t h e s a m e way a s LPG, SO
t h e s h i p p i n g a n d r e c e i v i n g b a s e e q u i p m e n t could be s i m p l e , a n d would produce no
dust.
In f i n a l Consumption a r e a , [ l ] t h e u s e of t h i s a s h - f r e e c l e a n fuel would e l i m i n a t e
t h e n e e d f o r d e s u l f u r i z a t i o n a n d a s h disposal t r e a t m e n t , [2] a s a g a s e o u s f u e l , i t
would he s u r e t o p r o v i d e h i g h power g e n e r a t i o n efficiency w i t h combined cycle
Power g e n e r a t i o n , a n d t h e p r o b l e m s of providing a coal y a r d a n d d e a l i n g w i t h a s h
would be resolved so i t could b e c o n s t r u c t e d i n t h e s u b u r b s of c i t i e s , t h e r e b y
r e d u c i n g t r a n s m i s s i o n power l o s s .
4 . 3 Cost e s t i m a t i o n of DME p r o d u c t i o n a n d E l e c t r i c i t y from DME b u r n i n g power
generation
F i g u r e 8 s h o w s a n e x a m p l e of DME p r o d u c t i o n c o s t ( a t c o a l m i n e a n d J a p a n CIF)
i n a c a s e w h e r e e q u i p m e n t c o s t v a r i e s according t o DME p l a n t s i z e w i t h DME
p r o d u c t i o n of 9 1 0 , 0 0 0 t o n s l y e a r a s a c o n s t a n t condition. A s t h e p l a n t s i z e
i n c r e a s e s , t h e c o s t of p r o d u c i n g DME f a l l s t o t h e s a m e level a s t h e p r i c e of l i g h t
o i l a n d of LPG, w h o s e cost i s f o r e c a s t t o r i s e , i n r e g i o n s n e a r coal m i n e a t a
p r o d u c t i o n r a t e of 2 , 5 0 0 t o n s l d a y .
I n t h i s c a l c u l a t i o n , t h e c o s t of t h e t o t a l p l a n t for DME p r o d u c t i o n from coal is
e s t i m a t e d t o b e 55 b i l l i o n yen. I f t h e p l a n t c o s t s climb from 55 billion to 7 5 billion
y e n , a s s h o w n i n F i g u r e 7 , t h e DME p r o d u c t i o n c o s t will be 2.22 yen110 3 kcal t o
2.86 yen110 3kcal a t t h e p r o d u c t i o n s i t e , while t h e e l e c t r i c power g e n e r a t i o n cost
r i s e s from 8.2 y e n l k w h t o 9 . 4 y e n l k w h i n J a p a n . T h e s e c o s t s of e l e c t r i c i t y would
b e e i t h e r e q u a l t o o r lower t h a n t h e c o s t of coal b u r n i n g power g e n e r a t i o n .
4.4 C o m p a r i s o n of t h e E n v i r o n m e n t a l Load of Coal b u r n i n g a n d DME b u r n i n g
Power generation
T h e t o t a l e n v i r o n m e n t a l load produced b e t w e e n t h e coal p r o d u c t i o n s t a g e i n coal
m i n e over s e a a n d t h e p r o d u c t i o n of power a n d d i s p o s a l of w a s t e m a t e r i a l i n
J a p a n h a s b e e n c o m p a r e d . F i g u r e 9 s h o w s a r e s u l t of t h i s s t u d y . A s w i t c h over t o
DME flow s y s t e m i s s u r e t o s h a r p l y c u t t h e e n v i r o n m e n t a l load a s follows.
11 T h e volume of CO2 e m i s s i o n s would r e m a i n a l m o s t u n c h a n g e d . W h e n coal
bed m e t h a n e i s e m i t t e d i n t h e a i r , i t s effective u t i l i z a t i o n i n t h e coal gasification
r e a c t o r c a n c u t 20% e q u i v a l e n t t o CO2.
[ 21 No s u l f u r c o m p o u n d s would be d i s c h a r g e d i n t o t h e a t m o s p h e r e i n t h e DME
flow s y s t e m .
3 1 As DME d o e s n o t c o n t a i n n i t r o g e n , t h e r e would be no fuel NOx. By
incorporating denitrification measures, the amount discharged into the
a t m o s p h e r e could b e c u t t o a p p r o x i m a t e l y 119 of t h a t d i s c h a r g e d from a coal
powered p l a n t .
41 Ash would be d i s c h a r g e d a s m o l t e n s l a g , it.would e e a s i e r t o u s e t h a n fly
a s h , a n d no h e a v y m e t a l e l u t i o n would occur.
I
I -f 0.30

0.25

p 020

-?3 015
010
a
01 ' ' """ ' ' ' ' I
-50" 0.05

100 1,000 10,000 100,000 0 000

CO2 SOX NOx
DME plant size 1 t l d I
Emission

Fig. 8 Cost estimation of DME production Fig.9 Environmental load of DME flow
system and coal flow for power generation
5. S u m m a r y
If DME i s developed t o t h e s t a g e w h e r e i t i s a p r a c t i c a l p r o d u c t a n d i s t h e n
d i s t r i b u t e d a s a n e n e r g y s o u r c e for home u s e , t r a n s p o r t a t i o n , a n d e l e c t r i c power
g e n e r a t i o n , i t will m a k e a s i g n i f i c a n t c o n t r i b u t i o n t o t h e r e s o l u t i o n of e n e r g y a n d
e n v i r o n m e n t a l p r o b l e m s , n o t only i n t h e c o u n t r y u s i n g i t for t h e s e p u r p o s e s , b u t
i n other Asian countries.
B e c a u s e DME i s n o t a s t a n d a r d f u e l which i s a l r e a d y i n u s e , i n t e g r a t e d a l l -
e n c o m p a s s i n g e f f o r t s m u s t be m a d e t o p r e p a r e f o r i t s i n t r o d u c t i o n a n d u s e from
the production through the distribution stage.

References
(1) Y.Z.H a n , K.F u j i m o t o , a n d T. S h i k a d a : 4 t h J a p a n - C h i n a s y m p o s i u m on coal
a n d C 1 C h e m i s t r y p r o c e e d i n g s ( O s a k a 1993), p. 515.
(2) Y.Z. H a n , K.. F u j i m o t o , a n d T . S h i k a d a : I n d . E n g . C h e m . R e s (to be
published) .
(3)Air P r o d u c t s a n d C h e m i c a l s : DOElPCl90018-T7 ( J u n e , 1993).
(4) J . B . H a n s e n , B . V o s s , F . J o e n s e n a n d 1.D.Sigurdardottiv.: S A E 9 5 0 0 6 3 f F e b .
1995).
(5)T.Fleisch,C.McCarthy,A.Basu,C.Udovich,P.Charbonneau, W.Slodowske,
S E . M i k k e l s e n a n d J . M c C a n d l e s s . : SAE950061 ( F e b . 1995).
(6) J . D a l y a n d E . O s t e r m a n : C h e m i c a l T i m e s & T r e n d s , ( O c t o b e r ,1 9 8 2 ) , p . 3 8

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