A numerical and comparative study of the laminar combustion characteristics and kinetics of dimethyl ether and ethanol flames at elevated temperature

•Acetaldehyde and formaldehyde are the dominant intermediate products of ethanol and DME.•The inhibition of methyl on laminar burning velocity is weaker than the enhancement of H and OH radicals.•The SL of DME and ethanol correlates linearly with the peak mole fraction of H + OH + CH3.•The hydrodynamic and diffusional-thermal instability of DME are all stronger than ethanol.