DME-fired water-tube boiler - A R&D study

Increasing attention has been given to the development of low-NOx combustion technology for DME (Dimethyl Ether). The present paper describes a R&D study for water-tube boiler carried out in Kansai University and Hirakawa Guidam Co. Ltd. under the support of DME project from METI. The main problem arisen in DME use is a difficulty in an application of premixed flame owing to low ignition temperature and rather high burning velocity. Then the previously developed lube-nested combustor, i.e. water-tubes are installed in the empty furnace, becomes effective means to overcome such difficulty in realizing low-NOx combustion. This paper begins with a brief review of R&D study of the tube-nested combustor specifically designed for city gas. Then further development for DME-fired water-tube boiler is described.