Fischer-Tropsch synthesis in a bottom split reactive dividing wall column

Abstract

This paper aims to investigate if Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis (FTS) is feasible in a bottom split reactive dividing wall column (BS-RDWC) from a theoretical viewpoint. In-built thermodynamic procedures of Aspen Plus, along with a detail kinetic model proposed by Iglesia et al. that predicts the consumption rate of CO and production rate of methane, and the Anderson-Schulz-Flory (ASF) model that relates products distribution to chain growth probability are used in carrying out the simulations. The chain growth probability depends on partial pressures of H2 and CO and temperature of each stage of the BS-RDWC. The rigorous simulation results show that the BS-RDWC has a product yield of 3.92 kg/hr for syngas mass flow of 12.23 kg/hr, CO conversion of 86 %, H2 conversion of 93 %, and carbon efficiency of 0.59. Simulation results of the BS-RDWC are compared with a conventional FT reactor followed by a distillation column. The results showed that the BS-RDWC configuration has higher total product yield and produces hydrocabon products with a higher purity than the conventional configuration.