modular dimethyl ether (dme) production · 2019-12-17 · modular dimethyl ether (dme) production h...
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Modular Dimethyl Ether (DME) Production
H – C – O – C – H
H
H——
H
H——
DiME 200Site specific option
Aggregated option
Ravi Randhava, PhD
Unitel Technologies, Inc.
Natural Gas Monetization
Shale gas has created a revolution in the natural gas industry. Gas supplies are more plentiful than ever and prices are low.
Over the last decade, new fracking technologies have created a paradigm shift in the natural gas industry.
Enormous reserves have been discovered in shale deposits not only in the US but all over the world.
Natural gas today is currently priced around $3.00/MMBtu.
Kerosene/naphtha/diesel oil prices are currently running at ~$18.00/MMBtu.
This price difference has created totally new opportunities for themonetization of inexpensive natural gas.
Monetization Options Dimethyl Ether (DME)
An increasingly important fuel can be made by dehydrating
methanol or directly by adjusting the H2/CO ratio in
the reformer.
GasolineNatural gas is converted into
methanol which is made into gasoline.
Gas to Liquids: GTLRequires world scale facilities. Natural gas is converted into
syngas and then heavy hydrocarbons which are hydrocracked into lighter
products.
Ammonia & Urea
Natural gas is reformed and
shifted to yield ammonia that
may be reacted with CO2 to make urea.
Production of electric power using combined cycle technologies. This is a threat that may drive up prices.
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG): Requires massive facilities, dedicated infrastructure & large investments in shipping.
Dimethyl Ether (DME)
DME is emerging as the optimal energy vector for the 21st century.
DME has a high oxygen content and no carbon-to-carbon bonds.
A 1:1 replacement fuel for diesel engines.
The potential of DME is particularly logical for oil and gas poor countries.It is much more environmentally friendly than conventional hydrocarbonderived fuels.
DME readily converts to yield polymer grade propylene. Yields of around45% per pass can be obtained. The non-propylene conversion productscan be recycled to extinction.
A study of in-tank energy costs shows that gasoline costs about$18/MMBtu, LPG costs about $17/MMBtu and DME costs about $10/MMBtu.
Applications
dme
Residential uses --
replaces LPGChemicals
& propellants
Heat recovery cycles
Power generation (Braytoncycles)
Fuel cells
Conversion to polymer
grade propylene
Transport: diesel
engines
Conversion to gasoline
H – C – O – C – H
H
H——
H
H——
Monetization via DME
NATURAL GAS
STEAM METHANE
REFORMER (SMR)
DIMETHYL ETHER (DME)
PROPYLENE
GASOLINE
Fuel for Diesel Engines
LPG Additive and/or Replacement
Catalytic DistillationA Breakthrough Technology
Catalytic Distillation is a combination of reaction and distillation in asingle unit operation -- it enjoys a number of specific advantages overthe conventional sequential approach of reaction followed bydistillation.
Catalytic Distillation Column
Wet methanol feed is introduced in the uppersection of the column.
Dehydration proceeds as the methanol flowsdown the column.
The catalyst is incorporated in baskets hangingoff the trays.
As the methanol flows down, almost completedehydration occurs leaving only water exitingfrom the bottom.
Dimethyl ether, the product of dehydration, flowsup the column and exits from the top.
Process Schematic: Top Fired Reformer
Process Schematic: Pressurized Reformer