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
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