Microchannel Reactors for Intensifying Gas-to-Liquid Technology

Abstract

Microchannel devices increase process intensity for major unit operation building blocks, including chemical reactors, by reducing heat and mass transfer distances. Observed volume reductions range from 10 to 1,000 times that of conventional technology.Microchannel technology is being commercialized for both steam methane reforming and Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis. Synthesis gas formation in methane reformers with integrated combustion has been demonstrated where conversions approach equilibrium at contact times less than 10 milliseconds (ms), temperatures near 925°C, at a pressure of 25 atmospheres (atm). FT synthesis has been demonstrated in a microchannel reactor over a Co/Re-Al 2 O 3 catalyst at a pressure of 41 atm and temperature of 250°C. Carbon monoxide conversion was greater than 69%, while selectivity to methane was below 11% at a contact time of 308 ms. In addition, the required manufacturing methods and technology to produce large-capacity microchannel reactors have been developed and demonstrated. 258

Simulation, integration, and economic analysis of gas-to-liquid processes

“…Further focus is needed for mass and heat transfer, residence time in the reactor forms a basis for the simulation and integration of the process (Krishna, et al, 1996;Krishna, et al, 2001b). The comparisons of these reactors are summarized in Table 1.5 (Fox, 1990;Jarosch, et al, 2005;Saxena, 1995;Sie and Krishna, 1999). Here is some illustration (Steynberg, et al, 1999) of comparison, for example, the SAS reactor and CFB reactor.…”

Holdup and Pressure Drop in Micro Packed‐Bed Reactors for Fischer‐Tropsch Synthesis

“…Jarosch et al [10] were the first to carry out the FTS in a micro packed-bed reactor using cobalt-based catalyst. Based on this work, Velocys Inc. has developed micro packed-bed reactor stacks for the FTS, recently together with Oxford Catalysts [3].…”

Comparison of different reactor types for low temperature Fischer–Tropsch synthesis: A simulation study

“…Moreover, heat transfer is intensified to an extent, where isothermal operation even for highly exothermic reactions becomes possible (Klemm et al, 2003). MR could be especially suitable for modern highly active FTS catalysts and are under development by Velocys (Jarosch et al, 2005). Until now, modeling studies concerning MR for FTS have not been published.…”