646. CROWELL, J. H., AND BENSON, H. E. Direct Evaporative Cooling in the Synthesis of Liquid Hydrocarbons From Hydrogen and Carbon Monoxide. Am. Chem. Soc., 111th Meeting Abs., 1947, p. 14 I.

646. CROWELL, J. H., AND BENSON, H. E. Direct Evaporative Cooling in the Synthesis of Liquid Hydrocarbons From Hydrogen and Carbon Monoxide. Am. Chem. Soc., 111^th Meeting Abs., 1947, p. 14 I.

Brief summaries of the German method for heat removal from the Fischer-Tropsch converter and of such developmental processes as the hot-gas recycle, the oil slurry, and the fixed-bed oil-recycle processes. The early laboratory investigations by the Bureau of Mines upon the principle of direct evaporative cooling of the fixed bed are also described. In this method oil is allowed to trickle down over the catalyst bed, and the vaporization of this oil removes the heat of the reaction. The catalyst bed in the small unit was 3 in. diameter and 12 in. length. Mechanical operation was very smooth and temperature control was quite satisfactory. Construction and operation of a larger unit of the same diameter but 8 ft. long is described in detail. Provision was made for oil injection at various points in the column along with other improvements in design. The productivity is currently about 1 gal. of primary product/day and tabulated data are given for products, yields, and operating information for space velocities varying from 100 to 300. Future plans for study and pilot-plant development are discussed.