Experimental studies and modeling of a fixed bed reactor for Fischer–Tropsch synthesis using biosyngas

Abstract

The aim of this work was to study the Fischer–Tropsch (FT) synthesis of a model biosyngas (33% H2, 17% CO and 50% N2) in a single tube fixed-bed FT reactor. The FT reactor consisted of a shell and tube with high-pressure boiling water circulating throughout the shell. A spherical unpromoted cobalt catalyst was used with the following reaction conditions: a wall temperature of 473K, a pressure of 20bars and a gas hour space velocity (GHSV) of 37 to 180NmL.gcat−1.h−1. The performance of the FT reactor was also validated by developing a 2D pseudo-homogeneous model that includes transport equations and reaction rate equations. Good agreement between the model predictions and experimental results were obtained. This developed model was extended to predict and quantify the influence of the FT kinetics as well as determine the influence of the tube diameter and the wall temperature. The predicted behaviors for CO and H2 conversion, productivity of hydrocarbons (mainly CH4 and C5+) and fluid temperature along the axis of the reactor have been analyzed.