TITLE: Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis from a Low H sub 2 :CO Gas in a Dry Fluidized-Bed System. Technical Progress Report, July 1, 1983-April 30,1984.

AUTHOR: Y. A. Liu;   A. M. Squires.

INST.  AUTHOR: Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ., Blacksburg. Dept. of Chemical Engineering.

SPONSOR: Department of Energy, Washington, DC.

LANGUAGE: English

PUB.  TYPE: Technical Report

PUB.  COUNTRY: United States

SOURCE: Department of Energy [DE],  May 84,  124p.

ABSTRACT:

The objective of this project is to experimentally develop and demonstrate a novel dry fluidized-bed reactor system (called heat tray) for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis from a low H sub 2 :CO gas. The new reactor involves conducting catalytic synthesis reactions primarily in a horizontal conveying zone, in which fine particles of iron catalyst are carried in a relatively dilute suspension by a large flow of reacting gas.  A secondary reaction zone, in the form of a shallow fluidized bed of catalyst particles, is situated beneath the primary reaction zone. This shallow bed also has immersed horizontal heat-transfer tubes for removing reaction heat. A major thrust of the new reactor development is to prevent carbon deposits from forming on the iron catalyst, which cause deactivation and physical degradation. This is to be achieved by conducting the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis in an unsteady-state mode, particularly by alternately exposing the iron catalyst to a large flow of low H sub 2 CO gas for a short period of time and to a small flow of H sub 2 -rich gas for a long period of time. During the past ten months, numerous steady-state and unsteady-state Fischer-Tropsch synthesis experiments from a low H sub 2 :CO gas were performed using a computer-controlled vibrofluidized microreactor and gas chromatographic (GC) system. The results have revealed specific directions for design and operational improvements of the microreactor system so as to effectively control the cycling of reactant gases during unsteady-state Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, and several modified microreactor systems have been constructed and tested. (ERA citation 09:030464)

REPORT  NUMBER: DOE/PC/50791-T3

CONTRACT  NUMBER: FG22-82PC50791