DMEplant instead of flaring natural gas

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DME-plant instead of flaring natural gas

• Dr. Hassan Salman
• Senior researcher/Project leader
• Energy technology center/Sweden
• Hassan_at_etcpitea.se, 46 70 382 23 87

Alkindi Engineering Conference Baghdad, 17-20
November 2008
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Flaring in Iraq
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Flaring in Iraq during the last years
Loss of 7 000 000 000 /y
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Environmental and health impacts

• Green house gases (CO2/CH4) and other gases that
  affect the climate (NOx, SOx)
• Emission of health risky gases such as CO, H2S,
  VOC, PAH..
• These gases have cancer and non-cancer,
  neurological, reproductive, and development
  effects
• Big waste of a natural resource

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DME-synthesis
2CO 4H2 ?2CH3OH
2CH3OH?CH3OCH3 H2O
3CO 3 H2 ?CH3OCH3 CO2
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Process flow scheme
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DMEDimethyl Ether, CH3OCH3
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DME-plants in the world
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DME-Utilization

• Fuel in diesel engines
• Raw material for production of other chemicals
  such as dimethyl sulfate (methylating agent) and
  acetic acid
• Fuel in fuel cells
• Substitute of LPG
• Aerosol propellant

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Engine Development
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Production costs and NPV
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Conclusions

• Reducing green house emissions from Iraqi oil
  field
• Eliminate the emissions of unhealthy emission
  associated with flaring such as sulphur
  components and other health-risky gases
• Production of DME gives more value added products
  and can be one of the basis for future chemical
  industry in Iraq
• Construction, operation and maintenance of
  DME-plants give many new jobs.
• Open new view for research and development work
  in and around oil fields