Modeling the Fischer-Tropsch Reaction In a Slurry Bubble Column Reactor
Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is one of the most
important catalytic reactions that convert the synthetic gas to light
and heavy hydrocarbons. One of the main issues is selecting the type
of reactor. The slurry bubble reactor is suitable choice for Fischer-
Tropsch synthesis because of its good qualification to transfer heat
and mass, high durability of catalyst, low cost maintenance and
repair. The more common catalysts for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis are
Iron-based and Cobalt-based catalysts, the advantage of these
catalysts on each other depends on which type of hydrocarbons we
desire to produce. In this study, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is modeled
with Iron and Cobalt catalysts in a slurry bubble reactor considering
mass and momentum balance and the hydrodynamic relations effect
on the reactor behavior. Profiles of reactant conversion and reactant
concentration in gas and liquid phases were determined as the
functions of residence time in the reactor. The effects of temperature,
pressure, liquid velocity, reactor diameter, catalyst diameter, gasliquid
and liquid-solid mass transfer coefficients and kinetic
coefficients on the reactant conversion have been studied. With 5%
increase of liquid velocity (with Iron catalyst), H2 conversions
increase about 6% and CO conversion increase about 4%, With 8%
increase of liquid velocity (with Cobalt catalyst), H2 conversions
increase about 26% and CO conversion increase about 4%. With
20% increase of gas-liquid mass transfer coefficient (with Iron
catalyst), H2 conversions increase about 12% and CO conversion
increase about 10% and with Cobalt catalyst H2 conversions increase
about 10% and CO conversion increase about 6%. Results show that
the process is sensitive to gas-liquid mass transfer coefficient and
optimum condition operation occurs in maximum possible liquid
velocity. This velocity must be more than minimum fluidization
velocity and less than terminal velocity in such a way that avoid
catalysts particles from leaving the fluidized bed.
[1] Jordan, R. B. (1991). Reaction Mechanism of Inorganic and
Organometallic System, Ch. 5, Oxford University Press, New York.
[2] N. Rados, M.H. Al-dahhan, M.P. Dudukovic, (2003), Modeling of the
Fischer-Tropsch synthesis in slurry bubble column reactors, Catal.
Today 79-80 211-218.
[3] R. Krishna (1999), Fundamentals and Selection of Advanced Fischer-
Tropsch Reactors, Applied Catalysis A: General 186 55-70.
[4] C.Maretto, R. Krishna (1999), Modeling of a Bubble Column Slutty
Reactor for Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis, Catalysis Today 52 279-289.
[5] Huang, S.H., Lin, H.M.,and chao,K.C.(1987). Fluid Phase
Equilibria,36,141.
[6] Roper,M. (1983). Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis,W.Keim,D.Reidel
Publishing.Boston.
[7] M.E. Dry, Advances in Fischer-Tropsch Chemistry, Ind. Eng.
Chem.Prod. Res. Dev., 15(1976)282-286.
[8] W.D. Deckwer, Y, Serpemen,M..Ralek, B. Schmidt, (1982). Modeling
the Fischer-Tropsch Syntrheis in the Slurry Phase, Ind. Eng. Chem.
Prod. Res. Dev.21 231-241.
[9] I.C. Yates, C.N. Satterfield, (1991). Energy Fuels 5 168-173.
[10] E.Costa, A. De Lucas, P. Garcia (1986) , Fluid Dynamics of Gas-Liquid-
Solid Fluidized Beds, Ind. Eng. Chem. Prod. Res. Dev. 25 849-854.
[11] Saxena, S. C. (1995). Catal. Rev.-Sci. Eng.,37(2), 227.
[12] Kunii, D. and Levenspiel,O. (1991). Fluidization Eng.,
Butterworth,Boston.
[13] Han, J. H., Wild, G., and Kim, S. D. (1990). Chem. Eng. J., 43, 67.
[14] Bloxom, V. R., Costa, J. M., Herranz, J., MacWilliam, G. L., and Roth,
S. R. (1975). Determination and Correlation of Hydrodynamic Variables
in a Tree-Phase Fluidized Bed (Part IV), In: Report No. 219, Oak Ridge
National Laboratory- MIT.
[15] Fair, J. R. (1967). Chem. Eng., 74,76.
[16] Soong, Y.,Harke, F. W., Gamwo, I. K., Schehl, R. R., and Zarochak, M.
F. (1997). Catal. Today, 35, 427.
[17] S. A. Hedrick, S.S. Chuang, Modeling the Fischer-Tropsch Reaction in a
Slurry Bubble Column Reactor, Chemical Engineering Communications.
2003, 190, 445-474.
[18] S. T. Sie Shah, Y., T., Dassori, C. G., and Tierney, J. W. (1990). Chem.
Eng. Comm., 88,49.
[1] Jordan, R. B. (1991). Reaction Mechanism of Inorganic and
Organometallic System, Ch. 5, Oxford University Press, New York.
[2] N. Rados, M.H. Al-dahhan, M.P. Dudukovic, (2003), Modeling of the
Fischer-Tropsch synthesis in slurry bubble column reactors, Catal.
Today 79-80 211-218.
[3] R. Krishna (1999), Fundamentals and Selection of Advanced Fischer-
Tropsch Reactors, Applied Catalysis A: General 186 55-70.
[4] C.Maretto, R. Krishna (1999), Modeling of a Bubble Column Slutty
Reactor for Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis, Catalysis Today 52 279-289.
[5] Huang, S.H., Lin, H.M.,and chao,K.C.(1987). Fluid Phase
Equilibria,36,141.
[6] Roper,M. (1983). Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis,W.Keim,D.Reidel
Publishing.Boston.
[7] M.E. Dry, Advances in Fischer-Tropsch Chemistry, Ind. Eng.
Chem.Prod. Res. Dev., 15(1976)282-286.
[8] W.D. Deckwer, Y, Serpemen,M..Ralek, B. Schmidt, (1982). Modeling
the Fischer-Tropsch Syntrheis in the Slurry Phase, Ind. Eng. Chem.
Prod. Res. Dev.21 231-241.
[9] I.C. Yates, C.N. Satterfield, (1991). Energy Fuels 5 168-173.
[10] E.Costa, A. De Lucas, P. Garcia (1986) , Fluid Dynamics of Gas-Liquid-
Solid Fluidized Beds, Ind. Eng. Chem. Prod. Res. Dev. 25 849-854.
[11] Saxena, S. C. (1995). Catal. Rev.-Sci. Eng.,37(2), 227.
[12] Kunii, D. and Levenspiel,O. (1991). Fluidization Eng.,
Butterworth,Boston.
[13] Han, J. H., Wild, G., and Kim, S. D. (1990). Chem. Eng. J., 43, 67.
[14] Bloxom, V. R., Costa, J. M., Herranz, J., MacWilliam, G. L., and Roth,
S. R. (1975). Determination and Correlation of Hydrodynamic Variables
in a Tree-Phase Fluidized Bed (Part IV), In: Report No. 219, Oak Ridge
National Laboratory- MIT.
[15] Fair, J. R. (1967). Chem. Eng., 74,76.
[16] Soong, Y.,Harke, F. W., Gamwo, I. K., Schehl, R. R., and Zarochak, M.
F. (1997). Catal. Today, 35, 427.
[17] S. A. Hedrick, S.S. Chuang, Modeling the Fischer-Tropsch Reaction in a
Slurry Bubble Column Reactor, Chemical Engineering Communications.
2003, 190, 445-474.
[18] S. T. Sie Shah, Y., T., Dassori, C. G., and Tierney, J. W. (1990). Chem.
Eng. Comm., 88,49.
@article{"International Journal of Chemical, Materials and Biomolecular Sciences:56478", author = "F. Gholami and M. Torabi Angaji and Z. Gholami", title = "Modeling the Fischer-Tropsch Reaction In a Slurry Bubble Column Reactor", abstract = "Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is one of the most
important catalytic reactions that convert the synthetic gas to light
and heavy hydrocarbons. One of the main issues is selecting the type
of reactor. The slurry bubble reactor is suitable choice for Fischer-
Tropsch synthesis because of its good qualification to transfer heat
and mass, high durability of catalyst, low cost maintenance and
repair. The more common catalysts for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis are
Iron-based and Cobalt-based catalysts, the advantage of these
catalysts on each other depends on which type of hydrocarbons we
desire to produce. In this study, Fischer-Tropsch synthesis is modeled
with Iron and Cobalt catalysts in a slurry bubble reactor considering
mass and momentum balance and the hydrodynamic relations effect
on the reactor behavior. Profiles of reactant conversion and reactant
concentration in gas and liquid phases were determined as the
functions of residence time in the reactor. The effects of temperature,
pressure, liquid velocity, reactor diameter, catalyst diameter, gasliquid
and liquid-solid mass transfer coefficients and kinetic
coefficients on the reactant conversion have been studied. With 5%
increase of liquid velocity (with Iron catalyst), H2 conversions
increase about 6% and CO conversion increase about 4%, With 8%
increase of liquid velocity (with Cobalt catalyst), H2 conversions
increase about 26% and CO conversion increase about 4%. With
20% increase of gas-liquid mass transfer coefficient (with Iron
catalyst), H2 conversions increase about 12% and CO conversion
increase about 10% and with Cobalt catalyst H2 conversions increase
about 10% and CO conversion increase about 6%. Results show that
the process is sensitive to gas-liquid mass transfer coefficient and
optimum condition operation occurs in maximum possible liquid
velocity. This velocity must be more than minimum fluidization
velocity and less than terminal velocity in such a way that avoid
catalysts particles from leaving the fluidized bed.", keywords = "Modeling, Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis, Slurry Bubble
Column Reactor.", volume = "3", number = "1", pages = "32-4", }