A techno-economic comparison of the different Fischer-Tropsch technologies used by SASOL
- Sastech R&D, Sasolburg (South Africa)
The Fischer-Tropsch process is used to convert synthesis gas (H{sub 2} + CO) via a polymerization mechanism to hydrocarbon products. The major driving force behind the development of the process was the production of liquid fuels and it was discovered by Fischer and Tropsch in 1925. The first commercial plant was built in Germany in 1936 and today Fischer-Tropsch plants are in operation in South Africa, Malaysia and Russia. A very important characteristic of this process is that it is not specific in nature in that the product spectrum can contain products ranging from methane to solid waxy products. Furthermore, for a specific carbon number, different types of hydrocarbon products are produced eg alkanes, alkenes, acids, alcohols and aldehydes. This wide product spectrum can be controlled to a degree by varying the operating temperature, the partial pressures of CO and H{sub 2} and the type of catalyst used. 4 refs., 2 figs., 3 tabs.
- OSTI ID:
- 430618
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-960730-; TRN: 96:006487-0129
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 5. world congress of chemical engineering, San Diego, CA (United States), 14-18 Jul 1996; Other Information: PBD: 1996; Related Information: Is Part Of The 5th World Congress of chemical engineering: Technologies critical to a changing world. Volume III: Emerging energy technologies clean technologies remediation and emission control fuels and petrochemicals; PB: 1118 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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