Reactors for Fischer‐Tropsch Synthesis

Abstract

The Fischer‐Tropsch synthesis was discovered in Germany in the 1920s and has since been developed to industrial scale within a relatively short period of time. In the 21st century, the process is undergoing a renaissance, because an increasing fraction of liquid fuels will have to be produced from alternative raw materials like natural gas, coal or biomass in the future. On industrial scale, multitubular and bubble column reactors are used for this highly exothermic reaction. Due to several disadvantages of both reactor systems, new concepts are presently investigated. For intensification of mass transfer properties of multiphase reactors, alternative catalyst geometries like honeycombs, structured packings or foams are discussed. High catalyst utilization and isothermal operating conditions can be achieved in microstructured reactors. Furthermore, several membrane reactor concepts are under investigation. After an introduction to historical development and state of the art of Fischer‐Tropsch reactors, chances and challenges of new reactor technologies will be discussed.

A review of Fischer Tropsch synthesis process, mechanism, surface chemistry and catalyst formulation

“…The activity of the WGS reaction produces more water as a co-product of this process, which is the kinetic inhibition of an iron catalyst. On the other hand, the higher activity of the WGS reaction over an iron catalyst allows the utilization of synthesis gas which contains carbon dioxide or hydrogen depleted syngas [53]. A cobalt-based catalyst is of interest for industrial applications due to its significant specifications.…”

“…A cobalt-based catalyst is an efficient and capable catalyst due to its high activity at low temperature [14]. In addition, a cobalt catalyst has durability of up to 5 years on stream compared to 6 months in the case of an iron catalyst [53]. A cobalt catalyst generally yields in higher production of long-chain synthetic hydrocarbon [21].…”

“…Chain growth probability can be maximized up to a value of 0.95 for a cobalt catalyst. It works well when the H 2 /CO ratio is near to two [53]. Fischer-Tropsch synthesis in an iron-based fixed-bed reactor produces naphthenes and aromatics in small amounts; it is the case that cobalt and ruthenium-based fixed-bed reactors usually produce none of these compounds [27].…”

Progress in Reactors for High-Temperature Fischer–Tropsch Process: Determination Place of Intensifier Reactor Perspective

“…where α ¼ probability of chain growth, Wn ¼ weight fraction of molecules with chain length, and n ¼ carbon number of chain length [15,17]. Figure 2 provides a graphical representation of the ASF distribution [17,20].…”

“…As shown in Figure 1, there are two operating modes of natural gas production based on FT process technology which are called LTFT [26] and HTFT [4,15]. Table 2 presents the practical information about these two operating modes (FT processes of Sasol).…”