Improving the Efficiency of the Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis Using the CO2 Reduction Alternative

Abstract

Abstract Gas-to-liquids technologyy (GTL) involves the chemical conversion of methane (usually in the form of natural gas) into easily transportable liquids like gasoline, diesel and heavy oils. GTL technology involves three basic steps: syngas production, Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis and product upgrade. The FT synthesis (or Fischer-Tropsch process) is a set of chemical reactions which converts synthetic gas or "syngas" into liquid hydrocarbons. This work show the benefits of a new GTL process (called the CO2 reduction process) over the conventional GTL process. ASPEN Hysys® Version 2004 (Build 13.1.2) Process Simulator was used to compare the product yield, power recovery and effluent water outlet of the conventional GTL and the CO2 reduction alternative. The simulation shows that successful elimination of the O2 generator, the CO2 removal unit and the H2 conditioning unit in the CO2 reduction GTL plant decreases the total power consumption of the GTL plant by about 21%, lesser effluent water production and increases yield of the most desired FT fuel, diesel by 33.5%.