Recent advances in reactors for low-temperature Fischer-Tropsch synthesis: Process intensification perspective

The low-temperature Fischer-Tropsch (LTFT) process aims to produce heavy cuts such as wax and diesel. For many years, there have been studies and improvements on the LTFT process to make the existing reactors more efficient. Recent studies have proposed innovative configurations such as monolithic loop and membrane reactors as well as microchannel reactor, which improved the performance of LTFT synthesis. This persuades us to update the existing knowledge about the available reactors. Some fundamental features of the current reactors, which belong to the classes of conventional reactors (fixed-bed reactors and slurry reactors) and innovative reactors, are discussed to assist the selection of the most efficient reactors specifically for heavy-cuts production. Published experimental and theoretical works with respect to developments in reactor technology and significant advances in catalysis (such as using structured packing, foams, and knitted wire as catalyst supports due to their excellent radial mixing properties) of the FT process are analyzed and discussed. Consequently, it is shown that the LTFT innovative reactors have higher CO conversions and selectivity of desired heavy cuts. Furthermore, the place of innovative reactors among conventional reactors in terms of effective process parameters on the product distribution has been estimated.