Performance of a slurry bubble column reactor for Fischer–Tropsch synthesis: Determination of optimum condition

Abstract

The CO conversion and selectivity to C 1 + and C 11 + wax products over Co/Al 2O 3 as well as Ru/Co/Al 2O 3 Fischer–Tropsch (F–T)catalysts were investigated by varying reaction temperature (210–250 °C), system pressure (1.0–3.0 MPa), GHSV (1000–6000 L/kg/h), superficial gas velocity (1.7–13.6 cm/s) and slurry concentration (9.09–26.67 wt.%) in a slurry bubble column reactor (0.05 m diameter × 1.5 m height) to determine the optimum operating conditions. Squalane or paraffin wax was used as initial liquid media. The overall CO conversion increased with increasing reaction temperature, system pressure and catalyst concentration. However, the local maximum CO conversion was exhibited at GHSV of 1500–2000 L/kg/h and superficial gas velocity of 3.4–5.0 cm/s. The CO conversion in the case of Ru/Co/Al 2O 3 was much higher and stable than that in the case of Co/Al 2O 3. The selectivity to C 11 + wax products increased slightly with increasing GHSV; on the other hand, it decreased with increasing reaction temperature, system pressure, and solid concentration in a slurry bubble column reactor. It could be concluded that the optimum operating conditions based on the yield of hydrocarbons and wax products were; U G = 6.8–10 cm/s, Cs = 15 wt.%, T = 220–230 °C, P = 2.0 MPa in a slurry bubble column reactor for F–T synthesis.