Chapter 6 - Processing of Primary Fischer-Tropsch Products

Abstract

This chapter reviews that the refining of fischer-tropsch (FT) products is very different from crude oil refining in terms of feed composition, refining focus, and heat management. The same basic technologies and commercial catalysts used in crude oil refining have therefore been adapted for use in FT primary product refining. The chapter discusses that the refinery configuration and choice of refining technologies depend largely on the split between chemicals and fuels production. Valuable products, like linear alpha- olefins, can be extracted from the FT product. The chapter reviews that as for a crude oil refinery, the FT refinery design depends on the nature of the feed that must be processed. Some key properties of the primary FT product components are discussed in the chapter with an explanation of their impact on the refining approach, most notably the hetero-atom constraints, compatibility with fuel requirements, and carbon number distribution. This serves as an introduction to the detailed discussion on the preferred refining options for the various cuts. The focus is on fuel production from the primary product although some of the chemical extraction opportunities that exist are highlighted in this context.