TITLE: Multicomponent Modelling of Fischer-Tropsch Slurry Reactors.

AUTHOR: D. S. Van Vuuren;   M. D. Heydenrych.

INST.  AUTHOR: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, Pretoria (South Africa). Chemical Engineering Research Group.

LANGUAGE: English

PUB.  TYPE: Technical Report

PUB.  COUNTRY: South Africa

SOURCE: Foreign source - South Africa [TFCSTI],  Aug 85,  49p.  ISBN: 0-7988-3560-5

NTIS ORDER NO.: PB86-116720/INW

ABSTRACT:

In the multicomponent model developed for a Fischer-Tropsch slurry reactor, the water-gas shift reaction is assumed to be in equilibrium.  This is supported by literature data on iron-based catalysts above 523 K and synthesis gas conversion above about 50%. A Schulz-Flory product distribution is used. Investigation of the effects of back-mixing and interphase mass transfer using the model shows that, although the mass transfer rates in full-scale reactors are fast compared with reaction rates, the ratio of the mass transfer rates of reactants and products is important in determining gas velocity and gas hold-up and hence reactor performance.

REPORT  NUMBER: CSIR-CENG-581