Fischer-Tropsch synthesis using microchannel technology and novel catalyst and microchannel reactor

US8188153B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Velocys, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Yong Wang · Richland, US
• Anna Lee Tonkovich · Dublin, US
• Terry Mazanec · Solon, US
• Francis P. Daly · Delaware, US
• Dave VanderWiel · Brecksville, US
• Jianli Hu · Morgantown, US
• Chunshe Cao · Kennewick, US
• Charles L. Kibby · Benicia, US
• Xiaohong Li · Richland, US
• Michael D. Briscoe · McKinney, US
• Nathan Gano · Dublin, US
• Ya-Huei Chin · Richland, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 5, 2010
• Grant date: May 29, 2012
• Expiry date: Mar 5, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P20/582
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The disclosed invention relates to a process for converting a reactant composition comprising H2 and CO to a product comprising at least one aliphatic hydrocarbon having at least about 5 carbon atoms, the process comprising: flowing the reactant composition through a microchannel reactor in contact with a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst to convert the reactant composition to the product, the microchannel reactor comprising a plurality of process microchannels containing the catalyst; transferring heat from the process microchannels to a heat exchanger; and removing the product from the microchannel reactor; the process producing at least about 0.5 gram of aliphatic hydrocarbon having at least about 5 carbon atoms per gram of catalyst per hour; the selectivity to methane in the product being less than about 25%. The disclosed invention also relates to a supported catalyst comprising Co, and a microchannel reactor comprising at least one process microchannel and at least one adjacent heat exchange zone.