Dimethyl Ether

Dimethyl Ether is a clean alternative diesel fuel with high cetane value and low emissions. Know its properties, uses, and ONGC pilot project for sustainable energy solutions.

Dimethyl Ether
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Dimethyl Ether Latest News

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), along with CSIR–National Chemical Laboratory (CSIR-NCL), is set to launch an industrial pilot project to produce dimethyl ether (DME) in Pune. 

About Dimethyl Ether

  • It is a synthetically produced alternative to diesel for use in specially designed compression ignition diesel engines.

Properties of Dimethyl Ether 

  • High Cetane Number: It has a very high cetane number, which is a measure of the fuel’s ignitibility in compression ignition engines.
  • Under normal atmospheric conditions, DME is a colorless gas.
  • Clean Burning: It burns cleaner, emitting minimal amounts of soot, nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), and particulate matter.
  • Thermal efficiency: It exhibits thermal efficiency that is comparable to traditional fuels, making it a viable substitute
  • Alternate Fuel: It can be a viable alternative fuel and engine technology to adapt to conventional diesel engines used in India’s economy’s agricultural and transport sectors.

Application of Dimethyl Ether

  • It is used extensively in the chemical industry and as an aerosol propellant.
  • It is used in chemical industries and also to produce dyes and plastics.

Source: NIE

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Dimethyl Ether FAQs

Q1. What is Dimethyl Ether?+

Q2. Which standard measure of DME makes it suitable for compression ignition diesel engines?+

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