California Dimethyl Ether Multimedia Evaluation
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Dimethyl Ether Multimedia Evaluation Tier I Final Draft Final DRAFT California Dimethyl Ether Multimedia Evaluation Tier I Prepared By The University of California, Davis The University of California, Berkeley For the California Environmental Protection Agency Multimedia Working Group Final DRAFT February 2015 i Dimethyl Ether Multimedia Evaluation Tier I Final Draft Principal Investigators, Authors, Researchers, and Students Involved in the Dimethyl Ether (DME) Tier I Multimedia Evaluation Principal Investigators and Authors of the DME Tier I Multimedia Evaluation (MME) Report: Thomas McKone, University of California, Berkeley David Rice, University of California, Berkeley consultant Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (retired) Timothy Ginn, University of California, Davis Mehrdad Bastani, University of California, Davis Anna Levy, Oberon Fuels, Inc. Anna Lenhart, Oberon Fuels, Inc. Brittany Applestein Syz, Oberon Fuels, Inc. Rebecca Boudreaux, Oberon Fuels, Inc. Students Involved in the DME Multimedia Evaluation Process Tyler Hatch, University of California, Davis Chris Morrow, University of California, Davis Hanna Breunig, University of California, Berkeley ii Dimethyl Ether Multimedia Evaluation Tier I Final Draft Table of Contents 1. DIMETHYL ETHER BACKGROUND INFORMATION ...................................................1 1.1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................. 1 1.2. HISTORY OF DME ............................................................................................................ 2 1.3. DIFFERENT USES OF DIMETHYL ETHER .......................................................................... 4 1.4. DME ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS AND REGULATIONS .............................................. 5 1.5. COMPARISON FUELS ......................................................................................................... 6 1.5.1. Comparison of DME to Diesel Fuel ........................................................................................ 6 1.5.2. Comparison of DME and LPG ................................................................................................ 6 1.5.3. Comparison to LPG for Infrastructure Storage, Distribution, and Use .................................. 6 1.6. PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF DME ................................................................... 8 2. PRODUCTION OF DIMETHYL ETHER ...........................................................................10 2.1. DME PRODUCTION PATHWAYS ..................................................................................... 10 2.2. OVERVIEW OF DME FEEDSTOCKS ................................................................................ 11 2.3. INDIRECT SYNTHESIS TECHNOLOGY ............................................................................. 11 2.4. DIRECT SYNTHESIS TECHNOLOGY................................................................................. 11 2.5. PARTICULAR PRODUCTION PROCESS PROPOSED BY OBERON ..................................... 12 2.5.1. Syngas Production ................................................................................................................. 13 2.5.2. Methanol Synthesis ................................................................................................................ 14 2.5.3. DME Synthesis ....................................................................................................................... 14 2.5.4. Introduction of Additives to DME During Production .......................................................... 14 2.5.5. Trace Impurities .................................................................................................................... 14 2.5.6. Production Plant Fugitive Emissions .................................................................................... 15 2.5.7. Water Resources Used During DME Production .................................................................. 16 2.6. DME PRODUCTION SUMMARY ...................................................................................... 16 3. STORAGE AND DISTRIBUTION OF DIMETHYL ETHER. .........................................17 3.1. FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT ......................................................................................... 17 3.1.1. Applicability of Existing LPG infrastructure to DME ........................................................... 17 3.2. STORAGE CONTAINERS AND MATERIALS COMPATIBILITY .......................................... 17 3.2.1. Cylinder tanks ........................................................................................................................ 17 3.2.2. Penetration of seals and gaskets ............................................................................................ 18 3.2.3. Filling Valve .......................................................................................................................... 22 3.2.4. Overfill prevention device...................................................................................................... 22 3.2.5. Quick coupling ....................................................................................................................... 22 3.2.6. Fluid level display device ...................................................................................................... 22 3.2.7. Electroconductivity ................................................................................................................ 22 3.3. DME STORAGE AND DISTRIBUTION SUMMARY AND DATA GAPS ................................ 22 iii Dimethyl Ether Multimedia Evaluation Tier I Final Draft 4. USE OF DIMETHYL ETHER AS A TRANSPORTATION FUEL ..................................24 4.1. VEHICLE OPERABILITY ISSUES ...................................................................................... 24 4.1.1. Additives ................................................................................................................................ 24 4.1.2. Aspects special to a DME diesel engine ................................................................................ 26 4.2. DEVELOPMENT OF DME SPECIFICATION ...................................................................... 27 4.2.1. ASTM Standards for DME ..................................................................................................... 27 4.3. DME USE SUMMARY AND DATA GAPS .......................................................................... 27 4.3.1. Conventional Diesel Engine Modifications ........................................................................... 27 4.3.2. DME Additives ....................................................................................................................... 28 4.3.3. Development of Specifications for California Certification Fuel for DME .......................... 28 5. ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT AND FATE OF DIMETHYL ETHER. ..................29 5.1. A MULTIMEDIA FRAMEWORK FOR FATE, TRANSPORT, AND EXPOSURE ..................... 29 5.2. DATA NEEDS FOR MULTIMEDIA TRANSPORT ASSESSMENT ......................................... 30 5.2.1. List of Physical-chemical Properties Impacting DME Fate & Transport ............................. 30 5.2.2. Phase Distribution Assessment and Degradation ................................................................. 31 5.3. PARTITIONING AND PHASE INTERFACE RELATIONSHIPS .............................................. 33 5.3.1. Fate of DME in the Atmosphere ............................................................................................ 33 5.3.2. Fate of DME in Surface Waters ............................................................................................. 37 5.3.3. Fate of DME in Subsurface Soil Environment and Ground waters....................................... 38 5.4. SUMMARY OF DME TRANSPORT AND FATE DATA ........................................................ 41 6. SAFETY AND POTENTIAL RELEASE SCENARIOS FOR DME FUELS ...................43 6.1. SAFETY ............................................................................................................................ 43 6.1.1. Storage and Stability ............................................................................................................. 43 6.1.2. DME Potential Fire and Explosion Hazards ......................................................................... 46 6.1.3. Fire Suppression Technology ................................................................................................ 47 6.1.4. Confined Spaces and Respiratiory Protection ....................................................................... 47 6.1.5. Leak Detection Technology ................................................................................................... 47 6.1.6. Fire Protection Management of DME ................................................................................... 47 6.1.7. Dispenser and Fueling System Certification ......................................................................... 48 6.1.8. Environmental Sampling and Analysis .................................................................................. 48 6.2. DME POTENTIAL RELEASE SCENARIOS ........................................................................ 49 6.2.1. Ruptured High Capacity Tank: DME Vapors Ignited in Unconfined Space ......................... 49 6.2.2. Alternative Release Scenario: Leaking Pipe With