Conversion of low H/sub 2//CO ratio synthesis gas to hydrocarbons. Annual report, October 1, 1981-September 30, 1982. [Stirred slurry reactor; bubble column slurry reactor]
The first goals of this project are: (1) to understand the influence of mass transfer on the performance of Fischer-Tropsch slurry reactors, and (2) to determine the nature of carbon formed during reaction. Experiments aimed at the understanding of mass transfer effects have been initiated and are discussed in this report. Fischer-Tropsch synthesis has been carried out in a bubble-column slurry reactor filled with Parawax. A fused-iron catalyst, promoted with potassium and copper, was used for all of the work reported here. The products were analyzed on line by gas chromatography. Experiments have been performed at 250/sup 0/C and 10 atm to determine the dependence of the synthesis rates on the partial pressures of H/sub 2/ and CO. Following a break-in period, the catalyst activity remained constant over a 4-day period of operation. For each set of partial pressures, a Schulz-Flory distribution of C/sub 1/-C/sub 10/ products was observed. The rate of formation of each product can be described by a power law expression of the form r = kP/sub H/sub 2///sup a/ P/sub CO//sup b/. the value of a is typically 0.9 to 1.0, in excellent agreement with what has been observed for experiments conducted in a well-stirred, slurry reactor using the same catalyst. A positive order CO dependence was observed, with the value of an increasing from 0.05 for CH/sub 4/ to 0.6 for C/sub 4/H/sub 8/. These values are in sharp contrast with those found using the well-stirred reactor, where a is negative and increases from -0.4 for CH/sub 4/ to -0.2 for C/sub 4/H/sub 8/. The striking difference between the CO dependencies observed between the two reactors is believed to be due to the presence of severe mass-transfer effects in the bubble-column reactor. The validity of the present interpretation is currently being examined very carefully. 5 figs., 1 tab.
- Research Organization:
- California Univ., Berkeley (USA). Dept. of Chemical Engineering
- DOE Contract Number:
- FG22-81PC40795
- OSTI ID:
- 5368614
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/PC/40795-T11; ON: DE85017178
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Conversion of low H/sub 2//CO ratio synthesis gas to hydrocarbons. Quarterly progress report, April 1-June 30, 1982. [Bubble column slurry reactor; well-stirred slurry reactor]
Kinetics of the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis in a stirred slurry reactor
Related Subjects
CARBON MONOXIDE
PARTIAL PRESSURE
CHEMICAL REACTORS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
FISCHER-TROPSCH SYNTHESIS
CATALYSTS
HYDROCARBONS
SYNTHESIS
HYDROGEN
IRON
CATALYTIC EFFECTS
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
COPPER
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
HIGH TEMPERATURE
MASS TRANSFER
MEDIUM PRESSURE
POTASSIUM
PROMOTERS
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
ALKALI METALS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHROMATOGRAPHY
DATA
ELEMENTS
INFORMATION
KINETICS
METALS
NONMETALS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
REACTION KINETICS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
090121* - Hydrocarbon Fuels- Chemical Synthesis- (1976-1989)