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.　©　2019,　Editorial　Board　of　Journal　of　Harbin　Institute　of　Technology.　All　right　reserved.