Fischer - Tropsch Process

Fischer-Tropsch (FT) process is the process where synthesis gas (H2 and CO) is converted into a mixture of hydrocarbons, oxygenates, water and carbon dioxide. The essential step, known as the Fischer-Tropsch (FT) reaction, can be written as

nCO + (2n+1)H2 → CnH(2n+2) + nH2O

where CnH(2n+2) represents a range of hydrocarbons, ranging from low-molecular-weight gases (n=1, methane), by way of gasoline (n=5-12), diesel fuel (n=13-17), and as far as solid waxes (n>17). The FT reaction is usually a catalytic reaction at high temperatures (180-350oC) and high pressure for realistic rates to be achieved, and the typical catalysts used are based on iron or cobalt. The hydrocarbons produced by FT process can be refined and used in place of more conventional liquid fuels derived from crude oil. Synthetic fuel can be produced by a variety of gasification methods, with gas-to-liquid (GTL), coal-to-liquid (CTL) and biomass-to-liquid (BTL) being the most widespread.
 

Process Flow Diagram

fischertropche 1
(Source: Speight, JG, Synthetic fuels handbook: properties, process, and performance, McGraw-Hill, 2008)

Equipment

fischertropche 2


(Source: Mousdale, DM, Biofuels: biotechnology, chemistry, and sustainable development, CRC Press, 2008)

Process Videos

Gas to Liquids Process

Biomass to Liquid Process

Coal to Liquid Process

Four Types of F-T Reactors

 

Glossary

Biomass, Gassification

 

References

  1. Speight, JG, Synthetic fuels handbook: properties, process, and performance, McGraw-Hill, 2008
  2. Mousdale, DM, Biofuels: biotechnology, chemistry, and sustainable development, CRC Press, 2008

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