Fundamentals and selection of advanced Fischer-Tropsch reactors

Fischer-Tropsch synthesis on a large scale is of interest as a means for co nversion of remote natural gas to high-quality products, particularly liqui d transportation fuels. Recent developments have resulted in reactors of ad vanced design having production capacities of 2500 bbl/day or higher, which is more than two orders of magnitude higher than the productivity of class ical reactors operated before or during World War II. Some fundamental aspe cts of these reactors, which belong to the classes of gas-solid fluidized b eds, multitubular trickle-beds, and slurry bubble columns are discussed to aid selection and design of reactors for a specific application. Special at tention is given to scaling up of slurry bubble columns. A scaling-up strat egy is proposed which might obviate the inclusion of a costly demonstration stage in the development of a novel process using bubble columns. (C)1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.