THE ASSESSMENT of SYNGAS UTILIZATION by FISCHER TROPSCH SYNTHESIS in the SLURRY–BED REACTOR USING Co/Sio2 CATALYST 1. INTRODUC
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July 2013. Vol. 4, No. 1 ISSN2305-8269 International Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences © 2012 EAAS & ARF. All rights reserved www.eaas-journal.org THE ASSESSMENT OF SYNGAS UTILIZATION BY FISCHER TROPSCH SYNTHESIS IN THE SLURRY–BED REACTOR USING Co/SiO2 CATALYST Bambang Suwondo Rahardjo Technology Center for Energy Resources Development Deputy for Information, Energy and Material of Technology Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPP Teknologi) BPPT II Building 22ndFl, Jl. M.H. Thamrin No. 8 Jakarta 10340 Email: [email protected] ABSTRACT Syngas or synthetic gas is a gas mixture containing CO, CO2 and H2 followed by compound SOx, NOx and CH4 in a lesser amount of each gas is different depending on feed material, gasifying agent and gasification process. Syngas can be produced from coal or biomass gasification process at high temperature conditions with the amount of air / oxygen / steam injection as a controlled gasifying agent. Syngas can be used as intermediate products to produce other chemicals or burned as an energy source to drive gas engine. In this research discusses the use of syngas from gasification proceeds through the Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis process as a substitute for synthetic liquid fuel. The results from the 10 run–times conducted mostly produces gaseous hydrocarbon (HC) light C1~C2 (CH4, C2H6) SNG equivalent except RUN–02. Gaseous hydrocarbons (HC) light C1~C3 (CH4, C2H6, C3H8) is produced by RUN–01, RUN–05, RUN–07, RUN–10 (where RUN–03 is relatively small). While RUN–05, RUN–07, RUN–10 are capable of producing hydrocarbon gases (HC) light C1~C4 (CH4, C2H6, C3H8, n-C4H10 i-C4H10) LPG equivalent. The other 4 run–times (RUN–04, RUN–06, RUN–08, RUN–09) less so produce the desired product. Product hydrocarbon gases (HC) light C1~C4 are the largest produced by the RUN–05 with N2 gas content is relatively small, in contrast with the RUN–01, RUN–07, RUN–10 less desirable in the Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis process since the content of N2 gas is still relatively high. Product hydrocarbon gases (HC) light C1~C3 is the smallest produced by RUN–01 compared to RUN–05, RUN–07, RUN–10, however, indicated to produce HC chain C > C5 ~C12 (oil), this means that the smaller the resulting gas products have a tendency to produce more oil. Liquid product produced by RUN–01, RUN–05, RUN–07, RUN–10 have indicated tendency of products HC chain C > C5~C12 (oil) which is relatively very small quantity and quality can not be known for sure (equivalent prediction kerosene), since the current vacuum distillation process (P = 10 mmHg using a solvent reagent C16H34) were bumping. Keywords : syngas, CoSiO2 catalyst, hexadecane solvent, slurry–bed reactor, F/T synthesis 1. INTRODUCTION gasoline is technology Gas-To-Liquid (GTL), which Indonesia as a country endowed with rich variety of consists of (a) via gasification syngas generation natural resources is time start 'glance' coal or biomass technology [Coal-To-Gas (CTG) or Biomass-to-Gas to be processed either as a source of energy and other (BTG)] and (b) Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis (FTS). industrial raw materials so as to reduce the 'servings' of petroleum. Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis (FTS) is the process of converting syngas (CO + H2) which form a long Considered one of the most effective ways to chain aliphatic compounds HC (CxHy) HC branched overcome the energy crisis is through the chain, unsaturated HC, and a small amount of development and utilization of alternative energy primary alcohol. FTS processes are developed using resources, such as coal or biomass to the fullest. One fixed-bed reactor can achieve high conversion and technology that can take advantage of the coal / capable of producing optimal parafinis HC class. biomass into synthetic liquid fuel replacement for System through cracking (cracking), the product can 20 July 2013. Vol. 4, No. 1 ISSN2305-8269 International Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences © 2012 EAAS & ARF. All rights reserved www.eaas-journal.org be directed to produce gasoline and diesel fuel types HC indispensable as a fuel for motor vehicles. Technological developments GTL (Gas-To-Liquid) Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis process for converting in the world today has reached the commercial stage, syngas into synthetic liquid HC consists of 2 catalytic (such as Sasol Ltd.., Shell, ExxonMobil, Rentech reactions that form large molecules of HC from CO Inc.., Syntroleum Corp., JNOC, etc.) as the holder of and H2 molecules coal gasification process results / a patent has been successfully operate the GTL biomass with oxygen in the feed steam, in which the refineries in various parts of the world such as product is determined by the use of this kind of Nigeria, Egypt, Argentina, Qatar, Iran, Malaysia, and catalyst, H2/CO ratio and reactor operating Australia. conditions. Currently, the Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis process has . been operated commercially in Sasol - South Africa (coal), Shell in Malaysia (natural gas), ExxonMobil, The value of n is very dependent on the method of Rentech, and Syntroleum. Choren Industries has built making synthetic gas and the type of materials used, an Fischer–Tropsch plant in Germany that converts e.g. natural gas H2/CO ratio = 1.8~2.3, coal = biomass to syngas and fuels using the Shell Fischer– 0.6~0.8. Olefin-rich product with a range of 5 ~ 10 Tropsch process [6]. (naphtha) Fischer-Tropsch process results in high temperatures can be used to make synthetic gasoline In this study focused on the syngas utilization by and chemicals, contrary to the paraffin-rich product Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis using 1L range of 12 ~ 19 (distillat) results of Fischer-Tropsch autoclavemodified slurry-bed reactor with catalyst Synthesis process of low-temperature very suitable (Co/SiO2) and solvent hexadecane into synthetic for making synthetic diesel and / or wax. liquid fuels instead of fuel oil. Figure 1. The alternative of syngas utilization as liquid fuel/synthetic gas and chemicals 21 July 2013. Vol. 4, No. 1 ISSN2305-8269 International Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences © 2012 EAAS & ARF. All rights reserved www.eaas-journal.org natural-gas fields. The use of microchannel reactors 2. LITERATURE REVIEW scales down the size of the reaction hardware and overcomes the heat and mass transport problems associated with conventional FT technology. The Fischer–Tropsch process is a collection of Enhanced heat transfer inside the microchannels chemical reactions that converts a mixture of CO and reactor allows for optimal temperature control, which H2 into liquid hydrocarbons. It was first developed maximizes catalyst activity and life. While no smaller by Franz Fischer and Hans Tropsch at the "Kaiser- scale plant is currently in commercial operation, Wilhelm-Institut für Kohleforschung" in Mülhei an indications show capital costs, operating costs and der Ruhr (Germany) in 1925. size could all be reduced relative to conventional FT facilities [15][9]. An order has reportedly been placed The process, a key component of gas to liquids for a 1400-bbl/day modular GTL plant using the technology, produces a synthetic lubrication oil and technology of a company called Velocys [11]. synthetic fuel, typically from coal, natural gas, or biomass. The Fischer–Tropsch process has received In Australia, Linc Energy commenced construction in intermittent attention as a source of low-sulfur diesel 1999 of the world's first gas–liquid plant operating on fuel and to address the supply or cost of petroleum- synthesis gas produced by underground coal derived hydrocarbons. gasification . The GTL plant uses the F-T process, 2.1. Technology Developments and produced liquids in 2008. The largest scale implementation of Fischer–Tropsch technology are in Since the invention of the original process by Fischer a series of plants operated by Sasol in South Africa, a and Tropsch, working at the Kaiser-Wilhelm-Institut country with large coal reserves, but little oil. The for Chemistry in the 1920s, many refinements and first commercial plant opening in 1952, 40 miles adjustments have been made. Fischer and Tropsch south of Johannesburg [14]. Sasol uses coal and now filed a number of patents, e.g., U.S. Patent 1,746,464, natural gas as feedstocks and produces a variety of applied 1926, published 1930. It was commercialized synthetic petroleum products, including most of the by Brabag in Germany in 1936. Being petroleum- country's diesel fuel. poor but coal-rich, Germany used the Fischer– Tropsch process during World War II to In December, 2012 Sasol announced plans to build a produceersatz fuels. Fischer–Tropsch production 96,000 barrels a day plant in Westlake, Louisiana accounted for an estimated 9% of German war using natural gas from tight shale formations in production of fuels and 25% of the automobile fuel Louisiana and Texas as feedstock. Costs are [12]. estimated to be between 11 and 12 billion dollars with $2 billion in tax relief being contributed the state The Fischer–Tropsch process has been applied in of Louisiana. The planned complex will include a large-scale gas–liquids and coal–liquid facilities such refinery and a chemical plant [4]. as Shell's Pearl GTL facility in Ras Laffan, Qatar. Such large facilities are susceptible to high capital PetroSA, a South African company which, in a joint costs, high operation and maintenance costs, the venture, won project innovation of the year award at uncertain and volatile price of crude oil, and the Petroleum Economist Awards in 2008 has the environmental concerns. In particular, the use of world's largest Gas to Liquids complexes at Mossel natural gas as a feedstock becomes practical only Bay in South Africa. The refinery is a 36,000 barrels with use of "stranded gas", i.e., sources of natural gas a day plant that completed semi-commercial far from major cities which are impractical to exploit demonstration in 2011, paving the way to begin with conventional gas pipelines and LNG commercial preparation.