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D
able fuel similar to propane
have LP gas industry lead
ers weighing the benefits of
a partnership and consider
ing new opportunities for
their businesses.
Dimethyl ether (DME) has been discussed
in propane industry circles for years, and it
was the topic of a renewable fuels article in the
January 2010 edition of L P G a s .
But DME made progress last year on two
particular fronts: In February, ASTM Inter
national, a globally recognized organization
that develops technical standards, released a
specification for DME as a fuel. Then in Au
gust, Oberon Fuels, a California company
that m anufactures DME, received U.S. En
vironmental Protection Agency approval for
the fuel’s inclusion under the Renewable Fuel
Standard.
W hat does it mean?
DME appears to have momentum as a re
newable fuel that can help displace diesel in
m otor fuel applications. And because DME
exhibits propane-like properties, officials
representing both fuels believe each side can
benefit.
“There is no silver bullet” when it comes to
O b e ro n Fuels' p la n t in B raw ley, Calif., p roduces D M E d ire c tly fro m m ethano l, alternative fuels, says Brittany Applestein Syz,
36 | LPGas J a n u a r y 2 0 1 5 www.LPGasmagazine.com
TECHNOLOGY
Defining DME
More than 5 m illion tons of DME are produced annually
worldwide from various feedstocks, mostly through metha
nol dehydration, the International DME Association reports.
Feedstocks include renewable materials (biomass, waste, wood
and agricultural products) and fossil fuels (natural gas and
w w w .L P G a s m a g a z in e .c o m J a n u a r y 2 0 1 5 LPGas | 3 7
TECHNOLOGY
Continuedfrom page 37 Because DME and propane are simi “DME is used in heavy-duty hauling -
working with Volvo in N orth America lar, Oberon Fuels sees an opportunity Class 8, 13-liter trucks pulling heavy
on DME-powered test vehicles. to partner with the propane industry, loads. It can get you up the hills. This is
Oberon Fuels also touts the benefits using its infrastructure and distribution where DME excels.”
of stable pricing with DME because it’s network to reach customers and, in turn, O nly m inor m odifications to the
not tied to crude oil pricing. Declining provide additional business for propane diesel engine are needed for it to run
to provide a specific price, the company companies. on DME, m aking construction, m in
says DME is com petitive w ith diesel “Propane and DME are used for dif ing and agricultural applications target
pricing. ferent applications,” Applestein Syz says. markets, as well, Applestein Syz says.
Some companies already supplying
equipment to the propane industry are
seeing an opportunity with DME. Para-
M o n e y S a v in g In s u ra n c e O p tio n s four Innovations, which manufactures
propane autogas refueling dispensers,
has been working with Oberon Fuels,
JAY
the In ternational DME A ssociation
and Volvo to demonstrate its DME dis
penser. Red Seal Measurement and Gas
JOHNSTON
Equipment Co. also are showing an in
terest in DME.
“We’re seeing real buy-in from the
propane industry,” Applestein Syz says.
c/lie oa/etu ( eadei* Oberon Fuels says it will continue to
reach out to propane industry players as
it works to execute its business model -
the deployment of small-scale, modular
DME production plants to coincide with
In s u ra n c e A g e n t growth in regional markets.
Developing standards
D y s te W illia m s A g e n c y One of the latest discussion topics be
tween DME and propane industry lead
w w w .D y s te W illia m s .c o m ers centers on storage standards, says
Bruce Swiecicki, senior technical advis
er, regulatory and technical services, at
952 935-5350
58; it is w ithin the scope of NFPA 55,
which is compressed gases,” Swiecicki
- says. “But w ithin that NFPA 55 stan
dard, there is not much to say about bulk
storage of compressed gases.”
The potential odorization of DME is
In s u ra n c e c lie n ts re c e iv e a s u b s c rip tio n also being discussed, he adds.
to The S a fe ty L e a d e r N e w s le t t e r fo r FREE. Swiecicki envisions propane and
DME stored in separate containers and
mixed at a point along the distribution
3 8 | LPG as J a n u a r y 2 0 1 5 w w w .L P G a s m a g a z in e .c o m
T EC HN OL O GY
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