ASTM D7901-14

Standard Specification for Dimethyl Ether for Fuel Purposes

ABSTRACT
This specification covers dimethyl ether (DME) for use as a fuel in engines specifically designed or modified for DME and for blending with liquefied petroleum gas. It is intended for use by DME manufacturers, purpose-built engine developers, in contracts for the purchase of DME for fuel purposes, and for the guidance of consumers of this type of fuel. This specification includes chemical composition and other requirements, sampling, and test methods.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification covers dimethyl ether (DME) for use as a fuel in engines specifically designed or modified for DME and for blending with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). This specification is for use by manufacturers of dimethyl ether, by engine developers of purpose-built engines, in contracts for the purchase of DME for fuel purposes, and for the guidance of consumers of this type of fuel.Note 1—The generation and dissipation of static electricity can create problems in the handling of DME. For more information on the subject, see Guide D4865.  
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. Units in parentheses are for information only.  
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Dec-2013
• ICS: 71.080.60 - Alcohols. Ethers
• ICS: 75.160.20 - Liquid fuels
• Technical Committee: D02 - Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants
• Drafting Committee: D02.H0 - Liquefied Petroleum Gas

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM D7901-14a - Standard Specification for Dimethyl Ether for Fuel Purposes
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2014
• Referred By: ASTM D7995-19 - Standard Test Method for Total Water in Liquid Butane by Liquefied Gas Sampler and Coulometric Karl Fischer Titration
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2014
• Referred By: ASTM D7994-17 - Standard Test Method for Total Fluorine, Chlorine, and Sulfur in Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) by Oxidative Pyrohydrolytic Combustion Followed by Ion Chromatography Detection (Combustion Ion Chromatography-CIC)
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2014

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:D7901 −14
StandardSpecification for
Dimethyl Ether for Fuel Purposes
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D7901; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope D4865 Guide for Generation and Dissipation of Static Elec-
tricity in Petroleum Fuel Systems
1.1 This specification covers dimethyl ether (DME) for use
D6667 Test Method for Determination of Total Volatile
as a fuel in engines specifically designed or modified for DME
Sulfur in Gaseous Hydrocarbons and Liquefied Petroleum
and for blending with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). This
Gases by Ultraviolet Fluorescence
specification is for use by manufacturers of dimethyl ether, by
D6897 Test Method for Vapor Pressure of Liquefied Petro-
engine developers of purpose-built engines, in contracts for the
leum Gases (LPG) (Expansion Method)
purchase of DME for fuel purposes, and for the guidance of
D7756 Test Method for Residues in Liquefied Petroleum
consumers of this type of fuel.
(LP) Gases by Gas Chromatography with Liquid, On-
NOTE 1—The generation and dissipation of static electricity can create
Column Injection
problems in the handling of DME. For more information on the subject,
D7828 Test Method for Determination of Residue Compo-
see Guide D4865.
sition in Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Using Auto-
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
mated Thermal Desorption/Gas Chromatography (ATD/
standard. Units in parentheses are for information only.
GC)
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
2.2 Other Documents:
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the NFPA 77 Recommended Practice on Static Electricity
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
ISO/DIS 17196 Dimethyl ether (DME) for fuels—
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica- Determination of impurities—Gas chromatographic
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
method
ISO 17197 Dimethyl ether (DME) for fuels—Determination
2. Referenced Documents
of water content—Karl Fischer titration method
2.1 ASTM Standards:
3. Terminology
D1265 Practice for Sampling Liquefied Petroleum (LP)
3.1 Abbreviations:
Gases, Manual Method
3.1.1 DME—dimethyl ether, the chemical compound
D1267 Test Method for Gage Vapor Pressure of Liquefied
(CH OCH ).
3 3
Petroleum (LP) Gases (LP-Gas Method)
D1838 TestMethodforCopperStripCorrosionbyLiquefied 3.1.2 LPG—liquefied petroleum gas.
Petroleum (LP) Gases
4. Chemical Composition and Other Requirements
D2158 Test Method for Residues in Liquefied Petroleum
4.1 The DME fuel for purpose-built engines and for blend-
(LP) Gases
ing with liquefied petroleum gas shall conform to the require-
D2163 Test Method for Determination of Hydrocarbons in
ments prescribed in Table 1.
Liquefied Petroleum (LP) Gases and Propane/Propene
Mixtures by Gas Chromatography
NOTE 2—Additional information on the physical and chemical proper-
ties of dimethyl ether, which are not considered necessary for fuel
D3700 Practice for Obtaining LPG Samples Using a Float-
specification at this point, are in Appendix X1 and are given for
ing Piston Cylinder
information of fuel suppliers, OEMs, and users.
4.2 The properties selected for limitation are those for
which indications exist from experience with similar tech-
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 on
Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants and is the direct responsibility of
niques and from initial engine developmental work that they
Subcommittee D02.H0 on Liquefied Petroleum Gas.
are required for obtaining acceptable engine performance.
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2014. Published January 2014. DOI: 10.1520/
D7901-14.
2 3
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or Available from National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), 1 Batterymarch
contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Park, Quincy, MA 02169-7471, http://www.nfpa.org.
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Available from International Organization for Standardization (ISO), 1, ch. de
the ASTM website. la Voie-Creuse, CP 56, CH-1211 Geneva 20, Switzerland, http://www.iso.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D7901−14
TABLE 1 Detailed Requirements for Dimethyl Ether for Fuel
6.2 Samples shall be representative of the batch of product
Purposes
and shall be collected from an appropriate storage container
Property Test Method Requirement
(typically an aboveground storage tank) or pipeline by a
A
Dimethyl Ether, mass %, min. D2163 98.5
suitablesamplingproceduresuchasPracticeD1265orPractice
Methanol, mass %, max. D2163 0.05
Water, mass %, max. ISO 17197 0.03
D3700.
Methyl Formate, mass % D2163 report
B
Sulfur, mg / kg, max. D6667 3
6.3 Sample Size—A minimum of 1 litre is recommended.
Vapor Pressure, kPa (psig), D1267, D6897 758 (110)
6.3.1 Follow the same safety procedures when sampling
at 37.8 °C (100 °F), max.
Corrosion, Copper Strip, D1838 No. 1
DME as when sampling LPG, and leave an ullage space of at
at 37.8 °C (100 °F), max.
least 20 % in a high pressure sampling cylinder.
Residue D2158
Residue on evaporation of 100 mL, mL, max, 0.05
Oil stain observation pass
7. Test Methods
A
The required minimum ensures that DME for fuel purposes will have a minimum
7.1 The requirements of this specification shall be deter-
estimated cetane number of 55.
minedinaccordancewiththemethodslistedbelow.Thescopes
B
The sulfur limit does not include the sulfur from an odorant such as ethyl
mercaptan that might be required by some regulatory agencies in some fuel of some of the test methods listed below do not include
applications. Note that addition of 1 pound of ethyl mercaptan per 10 000 US
dimethyl ether. Refer to the listed test methods to determine
gallons will increase the sulfur content of DME by 14 milligrams sulfur per litre of
applicability or required modifications for use with dimethyl
DME or 21 milligrams sulfur per kilogram of DME.
ether. The precision of these test methods can differ from the
reported precisions when testing dimethyl ether.
4.3 The maximum vapor pressure limit shown in Table 1 is
given to limit any high vapor pressure components such as 7.2 Composition—Test Method D2163.
gases[COandCO ]andalsotoensurethatthesamecontainers
2 7.2.1 Laboratory experience has shown that Test Method
(tanks, tank cars, and rail cars) designed for LPG can be used
D2163 requires the use of a 150 metre methyl silicone column
for DME.
in order to analyze samples of DME.
NOTE 3—It is expected that additional requirements for specifying
7.3 Water—ISO 17197.
dimethyl ether for fuel applications could be required as purpose-built
engines and other applications develop for DME and DME – LPG blends,
7.4 Sulfur—Test Method D6667 should be used for sulfur
and such additional requirements would be balloted for inclusion into this
determination.
specification, based on need and technical data.
7.5 Vapor Pressure—Test Methods D1267 and D6897 may
5. Workmanship, Finish, and Appearance
be used for vapor pressure determination. In case of dispute,
5.1 DME for fuel use in engines designed for DME and for
Test Method D1267 shall be the referee test method.
blending with liquefied petroleum gas shall have a colorless
appearance and not contain any components or contaminants
7.6 Corrosion—Test Method D1838.
that would be detrimental to the intended use of the material.
7.7 Residue—Test Method D2158.
6. Sampling
8. Keywords
6.1 Review all intended test methods prior to sampling to
understand the importance and effects of sampling technique,
8.1 dimethyl ether; DME
proper containers, and special handling required for each test
method.
APPENDIXES
(Nonmandatory Information)
X1. PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF DIMETHYL ETHER
X1.1 A selection of physical and chemical properties of ether can be found in the “DME Handbook Supplement”
dimethyl ether, as outlined in Table X1.1, has been assembled [English Edition] [ISBN 978-4-9903839-1-6], published
from a variety of sources. These are believed to be the best October, 2011.
available data. The table will be updated as new or more
reliable data is developed. 5
Available from Japan DME Forum (JDF), 3F Shinsei Bldg. 6-5-5, Shinbashi,
Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-0004. Tel: [phone], Fax: [phone], Email:
X1.2 Additional information on the properties of dimethyl [e-mail], Website: www.dmeforum.jp/
D7901−14
TABLE X1.1 Physical and Chemical Properties of Dimethyl Ether
Property Value
Chemical Formula CH OCH
3 3
CAS No. 115-10-6
Molecular weight, g/mol 46.07
Melting point, °C -141.5
Boiling point, °C -25.1
Vapor pressure at 20 °C, kPa 510
Critical temperature, °C 126.85
Critical pressure, MPa 5.37
Critical volume, cm /mol 178
Liquid density at 20 °C, g/cm 0.67
Specific Gravity of DME Vapor (versus Air) 1.59
Color Colorless
Odor Faint “ether” smell
Flammability Limits in Air, vol % 3.4 to 17
Estimated Cetane Number 55
Calorific Value, LHV, kcal/L, 20 °C 4600
(net heat of combustion)
DME solubility in water, g/100 mL at 18 °C 7
3 0.5
Solubility parameter, (cal/cm ) 7.3
Wobbe Index, kJ/m 46198
Acentric factor 0.204
X2. SIGNIFICANCE
...