Indirect conversion of coal to fuel and chemicals by the Sasol slurry phase distillate process
- Sasol Technology R and D, Sasolburg (South Africa)
Sasol was established in 1950 to convert low grade coal reserves into petroleum products and petrochemical feed stock. The first plant was commissioned in 1955 and two further plants followed in 1980 and 1982. Today Sasol produces the equivalent of 150,000 bbl/day of fuels and chemical feedstock from more than 40 million tons of low grade coal. In converting coal to petroleum products, coal is first gasified with oxygen and steam to syngas, a mixture of H{sub 2} and CO, which after purification is converted to hydrocarbons and some oxygenates by means of the Fischer-Tropsch process (FT). In the Sasol plants Lurgi Fixed Bed Dry Bottom gasifiers are used and the FT is performed in either the Low Temperature or High Temperature FT process. Over the years an ongoing program of optimization has led to numerous modifications and improvements. These improvements resulted in increased operational stability of the process, reduced mechanical wear and extended life of components. This paper describes the technology and the modifications which have improved the process, including the integration of the process with reforming of natural gas. Fischer-Tropsch in combination with gasification of coal has been used successfully and profitably for over 40 years for the production of synfuels and petrochemical products. In new plants syncrude obtained from FT in combination with reforming of natural gas can compete with crude oil for the production of fuels and chemicals where cheap natural gas is available (such as stranded gas in remote areas). This has become possible due to the development of much more efficient FT reactors and the proper integration of reforming and the FT process.
- OSTI ID:
- 324735
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-970931--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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