Performance of a slurry bubble column reactor for Fischer–Tropsch synthesis: Determination of optimum condition

The CO conversion and selectivity to C1+ and C11+ wax products over Co/Al2O3 as well as Ru/Co/Al2O3 Fischer–Tropsch (F–T)catalysts were investigated by varying reaction temperature (210–250 °C), system pressure (1.0–3.0 MPa), GHSV (1000–6000 L/kg/h), superficial gas velocity (1.7–13.6 cm/s) and slurry concentration (9.09–26.67 wt.%) in a slurry bubble column reactor (0.05 m diameter × 1.5 m height) to determine the optimum operating conditions. Squalane or paraffin wax was used as initial liquid media. The overall CO conversion increased with increasing reaction temperature, system pressure and catalyst concentration. However, the local maximum CO conversion was exhibited at GHSV of 1500–2000 L/kg/h and superficial gas velocity of 3.4–5.0 cm/s. The CO conversion in the case of Ru/Co/Al2O3 was much higher and stable than that in the case of Co/Al2O3. The selectivity to C11+ wax products increased slightly with increasing GHSV; on the other hand, it decreased with increasing reaction temperature, system pressure, and solid concentration in a slurry bubble column reactor. It could be concluded that the optimum operating conditions based on the yield of hydrocarbons and wax products were; UG = 6.8–10 cm/s, Cs = 15 wt.%, T = 220–230 °C, P = 2.0 MPa in a slurry bubble column reactor for F–T synthesis.