Chemrec takes part in $500,000 Research Program at the University of Minnesota

Chemrec will be fuel provider and one of the informal project advisors in a three-year research program about BioDME at the University of Minnesota. The research program titled “Performance and Emissions of a Second Generation Biofuel – DME” is carried out under professor David Kittelson at the Department of Mechanical Engineering and has received a $500,000 grant from the University’s Initiative for Renewable Energy and the Environment.

The focus of the research is to develop enabling technology to expanded usage of BioDME diesel engines by developing a robust and cost-effective BioDME-compatible diesel fuel system.

The group of informal project advisors include Dan Barry of Chemrec, professor André Boehman of Penn State, Henrik Landälv of Volvo, and Ian Mackay of Rational Energies. A single cylinder conversion of a six cylinder Navistar diesel engine will be supplied by the U S Environmental Protection Agency National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory, Chemrec is providing DME, and Johnson-Matthey will provide aftertreatment systems.

The specific objectives of the research program include:

·         Evaluate life cycle greenhouse gas emissions associated with BioDME production and use as a transportation fuel.

·         Converta Diesel engine to run on BioDME and measure performance and emissions including nanoparticles and other unregulated emissions with and without after treatment.

·         Install the modified engine and fuel system in a demonstration vehicle for routine use as part of the university fleet and evaluate performance and emissions in actual use.

·         Establishlinks between companies with gasification technology, companies with excess biomass that might benefit from producing DME, and end users that would benefit by fleet conversion.

·         Conduct a business/economic analysis to demonstrate the viability of BioDME as a transportation fuel in areas with substantial biomass resources like Minnesota.

·         Promotethe use of BioDME as a second generation biofuel for transportation and the economic benefits of producing the fuel in Minnesota.