• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.155-160
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• 2011

Dimethyl ether draws an attention as a green fuel in recent years. In this study, we investigated dehydration of methanol to produce DME using solid-acid catalysts, a series of zeolite. We found that ceria took a role of promoting the reaction conversion as well as selectivity of DME formation as a cocatalyst to the zeolite catalyst. We varied Si/Al ratio and ceria percentage on the surface of the catalyst to get high performance catalyst. ZSM5-30 with 5 wt% ceria on the surface was found to have excellent DME selectivity and to be little influenced by water content in methanol feed. We proposed a reaction model and obtained kinetic parameters for the DME formation using the catalyst based on experimental results using a microreactor.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.581-586
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• 2023

As the development of alternative energy is required due to the depletion of fossil fuels, interest in the use of hydrogen energy is increasing. Hydrogen is a promising clean energy source with high energy density and can lead to the application of environmentally friendly technologies. However, due to difficulties in production, storage, and transportation that prevent the application of hydrogen-based eco-friendly technology, research on reforming reactions using dimethyl ether (DME) is being conducted. Unlike other hydrocarbons, DME is attracting attention as a hydrogen carrier because it has excellent storage stability and transportability, and there is no C-C bond in the molecule. The reaction between DME and steam is one of the reforming processes with the highest hydrogen yield in theory at a temperature lower than that of other hydrocarbons. In this study, a hydrogen reforming device using DME was developed and a catalyst prepared by supporting Cu in alumina was put into a reactor to find optimal hydrogen production conditions for supplying hydrogen to fuel cells while changing reaction temperature (300-500℃), pressure (5-10 bar), and steam/carbon ratio (3:1 to 5:1).

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.636-641
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• 2021

Using numerical analysis, various factors influencing the performance development of high-pressure pumps for Dimethyl Ether (DME) engines were identified and the impact of each factor was evaluated using Taguchi method. DME fuels are more compressive than diesel fuels and have the lower heat generation, so it is necessary to increase the size of the plunger and speed (RPM) of the pump as well. In addition, it is necessary to change the shape and design of control valve to control the discharge flow and pressure. In this study, various variables affecting the performance and flow rate increase of high-pressure pumps for DME engines are planned using Taguchi method, and the best design method is proposed using correlation of the most important variables. As a result, we were able to provide the design value needed for a six-liter engine and provide optimal conditions. The best combination factors to optimize the flow rate at RPM 2,000 and diameter plunger with 20 mm. The regression equation can also be used to optimize the flow rate; -8, 13+0, 2552 RPM +54, 17 diam. Plunger.

• Journal of ILASS-Korea
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.190-196
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• 2017

The aim of this work is to investigate the combustion and exhaust emission characteristics of low-temperature combustion (LTC) at various EGR test conditions using a single cylinder common-rail diesel engine. In high EGR rate combustion mode with DME fuel, 30% (${\Phi}=0.61$) and 50% (${\Phi}=0.86$) of EGR were respectively examined, and then the combustion, exhaust emissions, nano-particle characteristics of each cases were measured. From these results, it revealed that The ignition delay and combustion duration are prolonged as the increase of EGR rate. In addition, at an advanced injection timing (BTDC $30^{\circ}$), ignition delays were fairly increased because the dilution effect of EGR and also low charge in-cylinder temperature created a lean mixture, thus decreased the peak release rate.

• Journal of ILASS-Korea
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.188-195
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• 2013

An investigation on spray characteristics of fuels which diesel and di-methyl ether (DME) with change of injection pressure used the multi-injection in constant volume combustion chamber (CVCC). Diesel was already used famous fuel which we could use. DME showed similar features with diesel like as cetane number, auto-ignition temperature. High cetane number of diesel and DME could make possible to compression ignition. DME showed different atomization from diesel due to evaporating pressures and boiling points. Experiments were carried out in CVCC equipped with Delphi solenoid 6-hole type injector and the spray characteristics of diesel and DME were tested the various pre and pilot injection. Terms of injections and a number of injections in multi-injection has been controlled. Experiments were performed in 2 types that 1500 rpm, 2000 rpm and under the condition of injection ranging from 100 bar to 500 bar. From the results of this experiment diesel showed longer spray penetration than DME. That result showed different of atomization speed DME and diesel. Result of high injection pressure condition showed similar spray characteristics diesel and DME. After this investigation, new conditions and experiments using laser light to go forward and add the fuels like as the biodiesel and diesel and DME blend.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.31 no.11
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• pp.926-935
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• 2007

The NOx emission characteristics of DME in laminar coaxial jet and counterflow nonpremixed flames were investigated using experimental and numerical approaches, respectively. The flame structure and NOx emission of DME were compared with those of $C_2H_6$ and $C_3H_8$. The DME flame was calculated using the Kaiser's mechanism, while the $C_2H_6$ and $C_3H_8$ flames were calculated using the $C_3$ mechanism. These mechanisms were combined with the modified Miller-Bowman mechanism for the analysis of NOx. Experimental results show in coaxial jet flame that DME flame has the characteristics of partial premixed flame and the flame length decreases up to 1/3 than that of $C_3H_8$ in the same condition of fuel mass flowrate. Then, the NOx emission of DME decreases to 40% approximately, comparing with that of $C_3H_8$. In the calculated results of counterflow nonpremixed flame, DME flame shows the $EI_{NO}$ decreases up to 50% approximately than those of$ C_2H_6$ and $C_3H_8$ flames when the equivalent fuels are consumed per unit mass and time. Although the overall NOx reaction path of DME is similar with other hydrocarbon fuels, it can be identified that DME flame has a distinct NO reduction mechanism due to the reburning NO chemistry in fuel rich region. From these results, we can conclude that the different NOx emission characteristics of DME flame with other hydrocarbon fuels are attributed to not the temperature increase and the activation of NO reactions due to O atom in DME fuel but the rapid processes of pyrolysis/oxidation.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.149-156
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• 2006

This paper investigates the steady state combustion characteristics of LPG homogeneous charge compression ignition(HCCI) engine with variable valve timing(VVT) and dimethyl ether(DME) direct injection, to find out the benefits in exhaust gas emissions. VVT is one of the attractive ways to control HCCI engine. Hot internal residual gas which is controlled by VVT device, makes fuel is evaporated easily, and ignition timing is advanced. Regular gasoline and liquefied petroleum gas(LPG) were used as main fuel and dimethyl ether(DME) was used as ignition promoter in this research. Operating range and exhaust emissions were compared LPG HCCI engine with gasoline HCCI engine. Operating range of LPG HCCI engine was wider than that of gasoline HCCI engine. The start of combustion was affected by the intake valve open(IVO) timing and the ${\lambda}TOTAL$ due to the latent heat of vaporization, not like gasoline HCCI engine. At rich operation conditions, the burn duration of the LPG HCCI engine was longer than that of the gasoline HCCI engine. CAD at 20% and 90% of the mass fraction burned were also more retarded than that of the gasoline HCCI engine. And carbon dioxide(CO2) emission of LPG HCCI engine was lower than that of gasoline HCCI engine. However, carbon oxide(CO) and hydro carbon(HC) emission of LPG HCCI engine were higher than that of gasoline HCCI engine.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.83-90
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• 2014

The main purpose of the study is to investigate the ideal manner and ratio to inject gasoline and DME simultaneously into intake port, and moreover to confirm the characteristics of combustion and emission of engine. Experimental conditions are 1200 rpm, compression ratio 8.5, intake air temperature (383 K). Internal cylinder pressure was collected to confirm the characteristics of combustion in order to calculate the heat release rate in the cylinder. In addition, HORIBA (MEXA 7100) which was possible analyzing emissions (NOx, CO, HC) was used. Vanguard gasoline engine (23HP386447) was used in this experiment. The result show that fuel design (DME-Gasoline) leads to the decrease of low temperature heat release, which is a benefit for higher-load on the HCCI engine. Also, IMEP and the indicated thermal efficiency increase with combustion-phasing retard, and these observations can be explained by considering the control of low temperature oxidation of DME.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.75-82
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• 2011

The numerical analysis of the reduction of reaction mechanism for the ignition of dimethyl ether (DME) was performed. On the basis of a detailed reaction mechanism involving 79 species and 351 reactions, the peak molar concentration and sensitivity analysis were conducted in a homogeneous reactor model. The reduced reaction mechanism involving 44 species and 166 reactions at the threshold value $7.5{\times}10^{-5}$ of the molar peak concentration was established by comparing the ignition delays the reduced mechanism with those the detailed mechanism. The predicted results of the reduced mechanism applied to the single-zone homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engine model were in agreement with those of the detailed mechanism. Therefore, this reduced mechanism can be used to accurately simulate the ignition and combustion process of compression ignition engine using DME fuel.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.559-571
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• 2012

Dimethyl ether (DME) is a new clean fuel as an environmentally-benign energy resource. DME can be manufactured from various energy sources including natural gas, coal, and biomass. In addition to its environmentally friendly properties, DME has similar characteristics to those of LPG. The aim of this article is to represent the development of new DME process with KOGAS's own technologies. KOGAS has investigated and developed new innovative DME synthesis process from synthesis gas in gaseous phase fixed bed reactor. DME has been traditionally produced by the dehydration of methanol which is produced from syngas, a product of natural gas reforming. This traditional process is thus called the two-step method of preparing DME. However, DME can also be manufactured directly from syngas (single-step). The single-step method needs only one reactor for the synthesis of DME, instead of two for the two-step process. It can also alleviate the thermodynamic limitations associated with the synthesis of methanol, by converting the produced methanol into DME, thereby potentially enhancing the overall conversion of syngas into DME. KOGAS had launched the 10 ton/day DME demonstration plant project in 2004 at Incheon KOGAS LNG terminal. In the mid of 2008, KOGAS had finished the construction of this plant and has successively finished the demonstration plant operation. And since 2008, we have established the basic design of commercial plant which can produce 3,000 ton/day DME.