Return to DOE Report Table of Contents

Return to Alternative Fuels and Chemicals Table of Contents

Alternative Fuels and Chemicals from Synthesis Gas.
Task 1.3. Fischer-Tropsch Support. Topical Report.
Fischer-Tropsch Wax/Catalysts Separation Study  - 1996

Bechtel

Table of Contents 153kb

Section 1
960kb

1

Introduction and Objectives

1-1

 

1.1

Introduction

1-1

1.2

Objectives

1-1

2

Separation Process Selection

2-1

 

2.1

Design Basis

2-1

 

2.1.1

Baseline Design

2-1

2.1.2

Physical Information

2-1

2.1.3

Physical Properties

2-7

2.1.4

Design Basis

2-10

2.2

Separation Techniques

2-12

 

2.2.1

Potential Techniques

2-12

2.2.2

Detailed Considerations

2-14

2.3

Initial Screening of Candidate Separation Processes

2-15

Section 2
849kb

3

Evaluation of Candidate Processes

3-1

 

3.1

Density - Exploiting Wax/Catalyst Density Difference with Sedimentation

3-1

 

3.1.1

Operating Principles

3-1

3.1.2

Sedimentation

3-3

3.1.3

Centrifugal Force Devices

3-3

3.1.4

Chemical Enhancement

3-5

3.2

Filtration - Exploiting Particle Size

3-7

 

3.2.1

Deep-Bed Filtration

3-7

3.2.2

Filtration with Screens

3-9

3.2.3

Membrane Processes

3-9

3.3

Enhanced Sedimentation - Exploiting Viscosity-Reducing Additives - Exploiting Coagulants

3-14

3.4

High Gradient Magnetic Separation (HGMS) - Exploiting Magnetic Susceptibility

3-15

3.5

Modified Kerr-McGee Process

3-15

3.6

Comparison of Separation Processes

3-17

Section 3
967kb

4

Summary and Recommendations

4-1

 

4.1

Summary

4-1

4.2

Recommendations

4-1

5

References

5-1

Appendix

1

The Kerr-McGee ROSE Critical Solvent Extraction Process for F-T Wax/Catalyst Separation

A1-1

2

SASOL's 25 January 1994 Application for a U.S. Patent for a Fischer- Tropsch Synthesis Reactor, Including Internal Filter

A2-1

3

Bechtel Interoffice Memorandum

A3-1

4

Bechtel Interoffice Memorandum

A4-1

5

System for Separation of Finely Divided Iron Oxide Catalyst from Liquid Wax in Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis of Transportation Fuels

A5-1

Illustrations

2-1 Baseline Design - Wax/Catalyst Separation with Solvent Extract 2-2
2-2 Iron Oxide Catalyst Particle Size Measurements by Various Organizations 2-9
2-3 Wax/Catalyst Recovery System 2-11
3-1 Typical Sedimentation Equipment 3-4
3-2 Centrifuge Separation 3-6
3-3 General Regions of Liquid-Solid Separation by Filtration 3-8
3-4 Filtration Classification 3-10
3-5 Asymmetric and Isotropic Filter 3-13
3-6 Aquafine Magnetic Filter 3-16

Tables

2-1 Comparison of Separation Methods 2-15
3-1 Fall Times for Particles of Various Diameters in Sedimentation and Centrifuging Processes 3-2
3-2 Comparison of Separation Processes 3-17