Products

Dimethyl Ether (DME)

Ambre Energy is proposing to ultilise the hydrogen-rich syngas from its coal gasification projects (eg. Felton Clean Coal Project) for the large scale, low cost production of a next-generation fuel called dimethyl ether (DME).

The company is funding development of a novel reactor and catalysts for a single-stage DME production process invented by a team at the University of Utah. In exchange for this funding and payment of an ongoing royalty to the University, Ambre Energy is entitled to exclusive worldwide rights to the technology.

DME (chemical formula CH3-O-CH3) has all the properties to be a fuel of the future. As recently as 2004, it was produced in relatively small quantities for use as a propellant in spray cans. It is a clean burning, non-toxic, bio-degradable gas which can be liquefied at relatively low pressure (less than 6 bars). In more recent times, DME has attracted much attention around the world because of its suitability as a fuel for compression ignition diesel engines, currently the most efficient engine technology available. Global production of DME is increasing rapidly.

Unlike diesel, gasoline or even ethanol, DME produces almost no particulates upon combustion; in other words, no smoke or soot. It contains no sulfur and produces very low NOX emissions. It has a higher cetane number (#55 – 60) than standard diesel (#40 – 55) and low combustion pressure, resulting in better efficiency but less engine noise. A standard diesel engine requires very little modification to use DME apart from changes to the fuel delivery system and the addition of a lubricant. It also has a lower energy density than diesel (similar to ethanol) therefore requiring a larger fuel tank, which must be pressurised (as with an LPG tank). Prototype buses and heavy vehicles using DME have been built in China, Japan and Europe.

The physical properties of DME are similar to LPG which would enable the same infrastructure to be used for the storage and transportation of DME.

DME has a wide range of other potential uses, such as an LPG replacement for household cooking and heating purposes, as a fuel for gas turbines to generate electricity, as a carrier of hydrogen for fuel cells. In each case, DME offers a cleaner, safer or more cost effective alternative to the fuels that are currently used for these functions. Its extraordinary versatility extends to the sources from which it can be made – biomass as well as coal and natural gas.

Achieving critical mass will be assisted by finding a cost effective method for large scale production. At the moment, feed synthesis gas is first converted to methanol before undergoing a further process for conversion to DME. The University of Utah is attempting to perfect the process for the direct synthesis of DME from syngas.

Click on the following link to see progress made by Volvo on the use of DME for heavy vehicles:

http://www.volvo.com/group/global/en-gb/volvo+group/ourvalues/environment/info_material/dme/

Synthetic crude oil

The coal oil produced from Ambre Energy’s proprietary Hybrid Energy System is similar in many respects to the medium-heavy petroleum found naturally at various oil fields throughout the world.

Extensive testing has been conducted by a number of reputable oil refining experts in Canada and elsewhere to determine what upgrading is required for production of fuels and other petroleum products. Negotiations are currently taking place with various oil refineries interested in reaching supply agreements for oil from projects proposed by Ambre Energy.

Power

A by-product of both of the processes being developed by Ambre Energy is a high energy gas which will used to produce clean power for internal needs and for export to a power grid.

In the case of the coal gasification/DME production process, only 75% of the syngas produced will be converted to DME. A shift reaction using steam will be applied to the remaining tail gas to boost hydrogen concentrations in the gas (up to 60% H2). Thereafter CO2 will be stripped from the gas before combustion of the gas in the turbine.

The carbon emissions for power produced in this way will be less than half of a modern black coal-fired power plant.

Char

The main product of the company’s Hybrid Energy System (HES) is a solid char for use as a high energy, ultra-low mercury feed for coal-fired power stations and as a PCI coal alternative for steel manufacturers.

The quality of the char produced will depend on the type of feed coal/lignite processed by the HES plant.