An Overview of DME Fuelled Vehicles

• Dimethyl ether, also known as DME, is a renewable fuel that can be produced either from the dehydration of methanol or from a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, known as syngas.
• While DME fuelled vehicles are a new concept in India, countries like Japan, the US, China, Sweden, Denmark, and Korea have already adopted this technology.
• The first DME-fuelled vehicle in India is the result of a collaborative research project between IIT-Kanpur and Chennai-based tractor manufacturer, TAFE.
• The research team, led by Dr Avinash Kumar Aggarwal and Prof Tarun Gupta of IIT-Kanpur, developed a 100 per cent DME-fuelled engine with a mechanical fuel injection system.
• DME has properties similar to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and its use can help reduce emissions of particulate matter and nitrogen oxide.
• The newly developed tractor is not only eco-friendly but also cost-effective, exhibiting higher thermal efficiency and lower emissions than traditional diesel engines.
• The simplified engine technology is user-friendly and does not require expensive and hard-to-maintain emission control devices. Moreover, it complies with stringent emission standards.
• The exhaust from the DME-powered tractor is smokeless, which helps in maintaining the quality of ambient air.
• The fuel injection equipment in the tractor has been developed using DME-compatible materials, thanks to the researchers at IIT-Kanpur.

Benefits of DME-Fuelled Vehicles

• The DME fuelled vehicle produces almost no smoke and emits extremely low levels of particulates and soot, even without the use of expensive after-treatment devices.
• It provides a viable alternative fuel and engine technology that can be adopted in conventional diesel engines used in the agricultural and transport sectors.
• DME has the potential to reduce GHG emissions and India's import bills as it can be produced by converting domestic coal reserves, agricultural waste, and municipal solid waste into methanol and DME.

DEE: A Potential Alternative

Scientists are now suggesting diethyl ether (DEE), an isomer of butanol, as a more feasible alternative to DME. DEE is similar to mineral diesel and can easily be blended with diesel, which would require less modification of existing engines.

• DEE falls under the category of 'oxygenated fuels', which means it can reduce emissions of carbon monoxide and soot due to its shorter carbon chain and superior ignition properties.
• If synthesized from ethanol, DEE can be a renewable fuel. It can be produced from low-value biomass feedstock through the process of dehydration.
• However, DEE does have a downside - its higher volatility increases the likelihood of a 'vapour lock' in the fuel injection system.

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