China: Production of dimethyl ether instead of diesel

Shanghai, China Chemical and Coal Company, said it plans to produce a fuel called dimethyl ether. This new fuel replaces diesel and serves as a bus fuel. The use of this fuel could save TP $ 37,000 / year.

The first bus used dimethyl ether fuel, which was replaced by the fuel industry team, replacing the University of Transport and Design (Photo: VNN).

Early next week, Shanghai Coal and Chemical Company under Shanghai Hyundai Group will put into production 5,000 tons of dimethyl ether (DME) fuel.

This production takes place in the context of world crude oil prices reaching more than US $ 70 per barrel and the demand for trade in Shanghai City is increasing. Bus companies facing headaches in this situation must always meet customer service needs.

Fuel dimethyl ether (DME) is a clean fuel used to replace liquefied petroleum gas, liquefied natural gas, diesel and gasoline. This fuel is produced from natural gas, coal or organic matter.

Fuel market experts say the fuel of dimethyl ether (DME) can be produced to replace diesel and can keep the world crude oil price above US $ 40 / barrel. While the current price of crude oil in the world is around US $ 70 / barrel, almost three times higher than in 2002.

New fuel dimethyl ether (DME) costs about 1,000 yuan / ton (equivalent to US $ 123) cheaper than diesel. If this dimethyl ether fuel is used to replace diesel for the entire Shanghai City bus, it could save more than 300 million yuan (equivalent to 37 thousand US dollars) per year.

Shanghai City currently has 15,000 of 19,000 buses powered by diesel fuel. The current capacity of the Company can provide enough for hundreds of buses, and the company can also expand production if the market demand increases.

The city government has listed the fuel chemical industry dimethyl ether (DME) as one of the City's key tasks to reduce expensive fuel costs, reduce environmental pollution and noise.

However, the bus engine needs to be revised a bit before using this new fuel."To use the dimethyl ether (DME) fuel, we have to redesign the engine for each bus and the cost is only about 10,000," said Huang Zhen, an alternative fuel specialist at the University of Transport. Yuan (equivalent to US $ 1,230) per vehicle, this cost is not very expensive. "

Dimethyl ether (CH3OCH3), also known as methoxymethane, oxybismethane, methyl ether, wood ether or DME.It is a colorless gas and can be processed into a liquefied gas.

People produce DME from natural gas, coal or organic substances.

Molecular structure of Dimethyl ether ( CH3OCH3 ) - Photo: mdc

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