New Reactor Concept for sorption-enhanced Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis

The Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis is from particular interest nowadays, as means of producing liquid hydrocarbons from various non-fossil feedstocks. Special attention is given to sorption-enhanced (SE) reaction processes due to negative effects of water on conversion and catalyst reported in literature. Therefore, a new reactor concept of two connected slurry bubble columns (SBC) for FT reaction with in-situ water removal and sorbent regeneration was designed and a cold flow model of the reactor was built up. The liquid circulation rate and thus the residence times in the columns as one of the most important designing parameters were studied with respect to the superficial gas velocity in a water-air experiment.