Sl. Fischer et al., The reaction kinetics of dimethyl ether. I: High-temperature pyrolysis andoxidation in flow reactors, INT J CH K, 32(12), 2000, pp. 713-740
Dimethyl ether reaction kinetics at high temperature were studied in two di
fferent flow reactors under highly dilute conditions. Pyrolysis of dimethyl
ether was studied in a variable-pressure now reactor at 2.5 atm and 1118 K
. Studies were also conducted in an atmospheric pressure flow reactor at ab
out 1085 K. These experiments included trace-oxygen-assisted pyrolysis, as
well as full oxidation experiments, with the equivalence ratio (phi) varyin
g From 0.32 less than or equal to phi less than or equal to 3.4. On-line, c
ontinuous, extractive sampling in conjunction with Fourier Transform infra-
Red, Non-Dispersive Infra-Red (for CO and CO2) and electrochemical (for O-2
) analyses were performed to quantify species at specific locations along t
he axis of the turbulent flow reactors. Species concentrations were correla
ted against residence time in the reactor and species evolution profiles we
re compared to the predictions of a previously published detailed kinetic m
echanism. Some changes were made to the model in order to improve agreement
with the present experimental data. However, the revised model continues t
o reproduce previously reported high-temperature jet-stirred reactor and sh
ock tube results. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.