Dimethyl ether fuel compositions and uses thereof

Abstract

The present invention provides useful fuel compositions which may be produced substantially from renewable resources, such as biomass, to provide green fuel compositions, methods, and systems. In some embodiments, fuel compositions include dimethyl ether and one or more C 2 or larger alcohol, such as ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, 1-butanol, 2-butanol, isobutanol, or tert-butanol. In some embodiments, fuel compositions include dimethyl ether and one or more C 2 or larger hydrocarbons, such as propane, propylene, propyne, and propadiene, n-butane, isobutane, isobutylene, 1-butene, 2-butene, or 1,3-butadiene. Methods of making these novel DME-based fuel compositions, particularly from biomass-derived syngas, are described. Various applications and methods of using the fuel compositions, such as portable cylinder fuels for camping, are disclosed. Additionally, principles of burner design for these fuel compositions are disclosed herein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fuel composition comprising dimethyl ether and a C 2  or larger alcohol. 
     
     
         2 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , said composition comprising an alcohol selected from C 2  to C 6  alcohols. 
     
     
         3 . The fuel composition of  claim 2 , wherein said alcohol is selected from the group consisting of ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, 1-butanol, 2-butanol, isobutanol, tert-butanol, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , said composition comprising said alcohol in a concentration of at least 1 wt %. 
     
     
         5 . The fuel composition of  claim 4 , said composition comprising said alcohol in a concentration of at least 10 wt %. 
     
     
         6 . The fuel composition of  claim 5 , said composition comprising said alcohol in a concentration of at least 50 wt %. 
     
     
         7 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , said composition further comprising a second alcohol. 
     
     
         8 . The fuel composition of  claim 7 , wherein said second alcohol is selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, 1-butanol, 2-butanol, isobutanol, tert-butanol, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The fuel composition of  claim 8 , wherein said second alcohol is methanol. 
     
     
         10 . The fuel composition of  claim 1 , wherein said fuel composition includes 95% or more renewable carbon content. 
     
     
         11 . A fuel composition comprising dimethyl ether and a C 2  or larger hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         12 . The fuel composition of  claim 11 , said composition comprising a hydrocarbon selected from C 2  to C 10  hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         13 . The fuel composition of  claim 12 , said composition comprising ethane and/or ethylene. 
     
     
         14 . The fuel composition of  claim 12 , said composition comprising one or more C 3  hydrocarbons selected from the group consisting of propane, propylene, propyne, and propadiene. 
     
     
         15 . The fuel composition of  claim 12 , said composition comprising one or more C 4  hydrocarbons selected from the group consisting of n-butane, isobutane, isobutylene, 1-butene, 2-butene, and 1,3-butadiene. 
     
     
         16 . The fuel composition of  claim 12 , said composition comprising a C 5  to C 10  hydrocarbon. 
     
     
         17 . The fuel composition of  claim 11 , wherein said composition does not include liquefied petroleum gas. 
     
     
         18 . The fuel composition of  claim 11 , said composition comprising said dimethyl ether in a concentration of at least 10 wt %. 
     
     
         19 . The fuel composition of  claim 18 , said composition comprising said dimethyl ether in a concentration of at least 50 wt %. 
     
     
         20 . The fuel composition of  claim 11 , wherein said fuel composition includes 95% or more renewable carbon content.