DIMETHYL ETHER FUEL PROPOSED AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO LNG

To cope with emerging energy demand in Asia, alternative fuels to LNG must be considered. Alternative measures, which convert the natural gas to liquid fuel, include the Fischer-Tropsch conversion, methanol synthesis, and dimethyl ether (DME) synthesis. Comparisons are evaluated based on both transportation cost and feed-gas cost. The analysis shows that DME, one alternative to LNG as transportation fuel, is more economical for longer distances between the natural-gas source and the consumer. LNG requires a costly tanker and receiving terminal. The break-even distance is around 5,000 - 7,000 km and varies depending on the transported volume. There is risk, however, since there has never been a DME plant the size of an LNG-equivalent plant [6 million metric tons/year (mty)].

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00301388
• Corporate Authors:

  PennWell Publishing Company

  1421 South Sheridan, P.O. Box 1260
  Tulsa, OK  United States  74101
• Authors:
  • Kikkawa, Y
  • Aoki, I
• Publication Date: 1998-4-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 55-59
• Serial:
  • Oil and Gas Journal
  • Volume: 96
  • Issue Number: 14
  • Publisher: PennWell Publishing Company
  • ISSN: 0030-1388

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alcohol fuels; Alternate fuels; Demand; Energy; Liquefied natural gas; Methanol
• Uncontrolled Terms: Methanol as fuel
• Geographic Terms: Asia
• Old TRIS Terms: Energy demand; Lng demand
• Subject Areas: Energy; Highways; Materials; I35: Miscellaneous Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00747726
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Apr 15 1998 12:00AM