To investigate the ignition delay characteristics of dimethyl ether (DME)/ethane (C2H6) mixtures at low temperatures

the ignition delays were measured at compressed temperatures of 627~912 K

compressed pressures of 16~30 bar

equivalence ratios of 0.5~1 and C2H6 blending ratios of 0~70 % based on a rapid compression machine (RCM). Meanwhile

the simulation was conducted at the same conditions as those in experiments using CHEMKIN-PRO software. Both experimental and simulation results show that the total ignition delay exhibits obvious negative temperature coefficient (NTC) behavior

especially at lower compressed pressures. Increasing compressed pressure and equivalence ratio lead to decrease the first-stage and total ignition delays

especially at NTC region. C2H6 addition inhibits the ignition process significantly

thus prolongs the first-stage and total ignition delays. Chemistry kinetics analysis indicates that C2H6 competes for OH radicals predominately produced by the DME’s low-temperature oxidation

thus the ignition process of DME is delayed while the ignition process of itself is promoted and even presents evident two-stage characteristic. With the increase of C2H6 blending ratio

the ignition process of whole mixtures is inhibited

the accumulation of heat release rate and active free radicals is decreased and the ignition delays are prolonged.