องค์ความรู้

A new DME synthesis route from syngas at a relatively low temperature (443 K) has been developed for the first time by the combination of a conventional DME synthesis catalyst (Cu/ZnO:HZSM-5 catalyst) with methanol as a catalytic solvent. The addition of methanol to the reaction system is the key to the success of DME synthesis at this temperature. Indeed, a CO conversion of 29 and 43% with a DME selectivity of 69 and 68% were achieved at 443 or 453 K, respectively, and 4 MPa, when methanol was used as a catalytic solvent.

Chemical synthesis of palm oil trimethylolpropane esters was conducted via transesterification of palm oil methyl esters (POME) with trimethylolpropane (TMP). The palm oil TMP esters are potential biodegradable base stock for lubricant production. The influence of the main operating variables, namely, temperatures and pressures, molar ratio of palm methyl esters to TMP, and catalyst amount was studied and analysed. The effects of temperature (80ºC to 140ºC) and reduced pressure (0.1, 10, 50, 100 and 500 mbar) were investigated and found to have a significant impact on the reaction.

The 2 set of engine experiments have been conducted to verify the effect of biodiesel blended fuel on diesel combustion for the low pressure diesel direct injection and common-rail direct injection. For low pressure (300 – 500 bar.G), the presence of biodiesel affect to the improvement of fuel ignition quality. While, the common-rail DI, the fuel conversion efficiency and ignition quality could help improving the engine combustion only at low speed high load condition.

The effect of ethanol blended gasoline fuel on emission was investigated in Thailand. The exhaust emissions tests on four-stroke motorcycle fueled with gasoline fuel (E0) and ethanol blended gasoline fuel (E10&E20) were conducted and evaluated in this research. The emissions test results show that the ethanol blended gasoline fuel results in decreasing of CO emission by 40-70%. Other emissions are not difference. Fuel consumption test results between ethanol blended gasoline fuels compared to gasoline fuel are not difference.