Abstract:
Methods, systems and apparatuses are disclosed for a Fischer-Tropsch ("FT") operation including a first FT stage comprising at least one FT reactor having a first FT catalyst and a first heat transfer surface area to catalyst volume configured to receive a first feed comprising synthesis gas and to convert a first portion of the synthesis gas in the first feed into first FT products. The disclosure also provides for a separation apparatus configured to separate the first FT products into first liquid FT hydrocarbons and first FT tail gas comprising unreacted syngas and for a second FT stage comprising at least one second FT reactor, having a second FT catalyst and a second heat transfer surface area to catalyst volume different from the first heat transfer surface area to catalyst volume, and configured to receive a second feed comprising the first FT tail gas and to convert at least a portion of the second feed into a second FT products.
Abstract:
A process for hydrogenating a Fischer-Tropseh ("FT") wax includes placing hydrogenation catalyst particles within a low-temperature hydrogenation reactor having a mixing sub-system and a vent at the top for excess hydrogen, placing the FT wax at a low temperature up to a predetermined level within the Sow-temperature, hydrogenation reactor, leaving a vapor space above the predetermined level, adding hydrogen under a desired pressure into the low-temperature hydrogenation reactor, mixing the input FT wax, the hydrogen gas and the hydrogenating catalyst particles together to create a mixture using the mixing subsystem and continuing the mixing until the FT wax has hydrogenated, stopping the mixing to allow the hydrogenation catalyst particles to settle, and removing an hydrogenated FT wax with residual hydrogenating catalyst particles from the low-temperature hydrogenation reactor. The hydrogenated FT wax may he filtered and subjected to vacuum distillation. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
Abstract:
Systems, methods and apparatuses for regenerating a Fischer-Tropseh ("FT") catalyst thai is to be regenerated with a first wash fluid comprising at least one hydrocarbon and contacting the washed FT catalyst with a gas comprising hydrogen. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
Abstract:
A Fischer-Tropsch catalyst activation system including separation apparatus configured for separating a product gas comprising primarily hydrogen from a gas stream comprising hydrogen, an activation reactor fluidly connected with the separation apparatus via an activation gas inlet line whereby the product gas may be introduced into the activation reactor, and a circulation loop fluidly connecting a gas outlet of the activation reactor with the activation gas inlet line or with another gas inlet of the activation reactor and fluidly connecting the activation reactor with one or more apparatus configured for removal of H 2 O. A method of activating a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst is also provided.
Abstract:
A process for hydrogenating a Fischer-Tropseh ("FT") wax includes placing hydrogenation catalyst particles within a low-temperature hydrogenation reactor having a mixing sub-system and a vent at the top for excess hydrogen, placing the FT wax at a low temperature up to a predetermined level within the Sow-temperature, hydrogenation reactor, leaving a vapor space above the predetermined level, adding hydrogen under a desired pressure into the low-temperature hydrogenation reactor, mixing the input FT wax, the hydrogen gas and the hydrogenating catalyst particles together to create a mixture using the mixing subsystem and continuing the mixing until the FT wax has hydrogenated, stopping the mixing to allow the hydrogenation catalyst particles to settle, and removing an hydrogenated FT wax with residual hydrogenating catalyst particles from the low-temperature hydrogenation reactor. The hydrogenated FT wax may he filtered and subjected to vacuum distillation. Other embodiments are also disclosed.
Abstract:
Systems, methods and apparatuses for regenerating a Fischer-Tropsch ("FT") catalyst that is to be regenerated with a first wash fluid comprising at least one hydrocarbon and contacting the washed FT catalyst with a gas comprising hydrogen, method of regenerating a Fischer-Tropsch ("'FT") catalyst that is at least partially spent through having been utilized to produce FT hydrocarbons via FT synthesis in an FT reactor. The method includes the steps of washing the FT catalyst to be regenerated with a first wash fluid. The FT catalyst to be regenerated comprises pores, and at least a fraction of the pores contain a first mixture of hydrocarbons, The first wash fluid comprises at least one hydrocarbon, and the average molecular weight of the at least one hydrocarbon of the first wash fluid is less than the average molecular weight of the hydrocarbons in the first mixture of hydrocarbons.