Scaleup of Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis in Slurry Bubble Column Reactors
Laurent Sehabiague, Yannick J. Heintz, and Badie I. Morsi
Concept
U.S. oil consumption in 2006 was about 20 million bbl/day, representing 25 percent of the entire worldwide consumption. More than 50 percent of this oil was imported. Due to the rise in oil prices, to meet the increasing demand for oil, and to guarantee independence from imported oil, alternative fuel sources must be developed.
Synthetic fuels produced from coal, natural gas, or biomass via Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) synthesis can be directly used as alternative or complementary sources of fuel and are cleaner than oil. They result from syngas (H2+CO) being catalytically converted in a slurry bubble column reactor (SBCR).
In order to model, design, and scale-up SBCRs, precise knowledge of the kinetics and hydrodynamic and mass/heat transfer characteristics under actual industrial F-T conditions is required.
Application and Benefits
Wide variety of liquid hydrocarbons products:
- Gasoline
- Diesel
- Jet fuel
- Naphtha
- Lube oils
- Wax
- Coal, natural gas, and biomass as sources of chemicals and fuel
- Clean products containing near zero sulfurs, nitrogen oxides, and aromatics
- Remote natural-gas reservoirs can be economically exploited by onsite conversion of the natural gas into transportable liquid fuels
Technical Approach
- Measure the hydrodynamic and mass transfer parameters in a large-scale slurry bubble column reactor operating under Fischer-Tropsch (F-T) synthesis conditions.
- Statistically assess the effect of various operating variables (pressure, temperature, mixing, catalyst loading, catalyst size, gas distributor design, etc.) on these parameters.
- Develop novel correlations for predicting the hydrodynamic and mass transfer parameters.
- Develop a comprehensive reactor model and use this computer model in the design, optimization, and scaleup of the industrial F-T SBCR.
Collaborations
Research Team
Laurent Sehabiague
Yannick J. Heintz
Badie I. Morsi
Key Industry Partners
INTEVEP, Venezuela
Petrobras, Brazil
Sasol, South Africa
Contact
Badie I. Morsi
University of Pittsburgh
Department of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering
412-624-9650
morsi@pitt.edu