Dimethly ether (DME) is a clean fuel that does not
produce toxic gases or particulate matter (PM) at burning.
JFE Group develops a direct synthesis process of
DME which has advantages in economics. Construction
of a demonstration plant with 100 t/d capacity was finished
in Nov. 2003. The first demonstrating operation
(Run 100) through Dec. 2003 to Jan. 2004 and the second
operation (Run 200) through June 2004 to Aug.
2004 were completed successfully. The conversion of
synthesis gas, the selectivity to DME and the purity of
DME reached to 96%(Target: more than 95%), 93%
(Target: more than 90%) and 99.6% (Target: more than
99%), respectively. As an application technology of
DME, a DME diesel generation system is now under
development. Its demonstration test facility has 1250 kW
capacity and a Nox reduction system using DME as a
reducing agent.
