Speaker
Description
Dimethyl ether (DME) has emerged as a promising renewable alternative to natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), producible through both thermochemical and electro‑fuel pathways. With combustion characteristics comparable to methane and a similar Wobbe index, DME offers favorable handling properties as a condensable gas that can be stored long‑term at moderate pressures (<10 atm). These features also make it a viable replacement fuel for industrial sites lacking access to the natural gas grid. Prior to fuel substitution, however, the compatibility of gas delivery systems and the interaction between combustion atmospheres and heated materials must be assessed. This study presents practical experience from implementing DME as a fuel for ingot reheating and evaluates the effects of combustion atmospheres from LPG and DME on steel oxidation.
A 4.2 MW reheating furnace used for ingot heating before hot forging was commissioned and equipped with multifuel air burners capable of operating on both LPG and DME. Two parallel fuel‑gas supply systems were installed to demonstrate full‑scale delivery solutions. For DME pressure reduction, two approaches were tested: a mechanical PTFE‑coated membrane regulator and an electrically controlled valve system. Steel samples representing a range of grades, from low‑alloy steels to high‑strength specialty steels and stainless steels, were exposed for two hours to quantify oxidation behavior. Gas emissions (O₂, CO₂, CO, NOₓ) were continuously monitored.
Preliminary results show that oxidation rates and oxide products were comparable for LPG and DME combustion atmospheres across all tested steel grades. Additionally, DME combustion produced lower NOₓ emissions than LPG.
Overall, the trials indicate that DME is a technically suitable replacement for natural gas and LPG in steel reheating applications.
| Speaker Company/University | Swerim AB |
|---|